#but then she had pretty severe side effects from it (pain and bleeding)

[sebstanaddict]

The Weight of Love

Bucky Barnes x Reader One Shot

Summary: Bucky Barnes never expected to fall for Y/n, the nurse who helped him recover after he got severely injured from a dangerous mission. Six months later, their love is tested as Y/n becomes the one who needs help. When she collapses in his arms, Bucky must find a way to support her and face their challenges together.

Pairings : Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader

Warning : none I think, let me know if you find any

Word count : 4k words

Read more Bucky one shots here : The Stan and Barnes Oddyssey

---

The Weight of Love

The first time James "Bucky" Barnes laid eyes on Y/n, he was bleeding out on a gurney, the sharp sting of pain dulled only by the disorienting fog of shock. The mission had gone horribly wrong, leaving him with a deep, jagged wound in his side that refused to stop bleeding. As he was rushed through the sterile halls of New York Presbyterian Hospital, his vision blurred, and he fought to stay conscious. Despite the chaos surrounding him, a calm, steady voice broke through the haze.

"Stay with me, Mr. Barnes. You're going to be okay. Just stay with me."

Her words were like a lifeline in the storm, anchoring him to the present. Bucky had faced countless injuries in the past, his body a patchwork of scars from battles that spanned decades. The super soldier serum coursing through his veins had always ensured that he healed faster than any normal human could. But lately, he'd noticed a change-a slowing down that was unsettling, to say the least. He wasn't healing as quickly as he used to, and this mission had proven that in the worst possible way.

The fluorescent lights of the emergency room passed overhead, casting harsh shadows that danced in and out of his vision. He could feel the life draining out of him, a coldness creeping into his limbs. But that voice-soothing, determined-kept pulling him back from the brink.

"Don't give up on me now, Mr. Barnes. We're almost there."

Somehow, he managed to focus, his vision sharpening just enough to make out her face. She had a mask on, but her eyes-their gentle concern, their unwavering focus-were enough to imprint on his memory even as he slipped into darkness.

When Bucky next opened his eyes, the world was quieter, the frantic urgency of the ER replaced by the steady beeping of monitors. His side ached, but the pain was duller now, a mere echo of the agony he remembered. He tried to sit up, but his body protested, and he let out a low groan.

"You're awake."

The voice was familiar, and Bucky turned his head slightly, wincing at the stiffness in his neck. Standing by the foot of his bed, holding a clipboard, was the nurse who had spoken to him in the chaos of the ER. Her face was calm, her demeanor professional, but there was a softness in her eyes that put him at ease.

"Y/n," she introduced herself, as if sensing he wouldn't recall much from earlier. "How are you feeling?"

Bucky swallowed, his throat dry and his voice rasping when he finally spoke. "Like I've been through a meat grinder."

Y/n nodded, her expression empathetic. "That sounds about right. You were in pretty rough shape when you came in, but the doctors were able to stabilize you. The wound was deep, but it didn't hit any vital organs, which is why you're still with us."

Bucky glanced down at his bandaged side, the stark white gauze a reminder of just how close he'd come to not making it. The serum should have helped him heal faster, but lately, its effects seemed to be... waning. He wasn't bouncing back the way he used to, and the thought sent a chill down his spine.

"How bad was it?" he asked, though he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"Pretty bad," Y/n admitted, her voice gentle. "You were bleeding heavily, and with the serum slowing down... well, it took longer than it should have for your body to start the healing process. But you're stable now, and that's what matters."

Bucky nodded, his mind still processing her words. The serum had been a part of him for so long, a source of strength that he had come to rely on. But if it was weakening... what did that mean for him? For the future?

As if sensing his unease, Y/n stepped closer, offering a small, reassuring smile. "You're going to be okay, Mr. Barnes. You just need to give your body time to heal."

Bucky managed a faint smile in return. "Please, call me Bucky."

"Alright, Bucky," Y/n said, her smile widening slightly. "How about I get you some water? You've been out for a while; you must be thirsty."

"Yeah, that'd be good," Bucky replied, his voice a bit steadier now.

As Y/n poured a cup of water and handed it to him, Bucky took a moment to really look at her. She moved with a quiet efficiency, but there was a warmth in her presence that cut through the sterile coldness of the hospital room. When their fingers brushed as she handed him the cup, he felt a strange sense of connection, a fleeting moment of human contact that made him feel... less alone.

Over the next few days, Y/n became a familiar and comforting presence in Bucky's life. Each morning, she was there, checking his vitals, administering medication, and asking about his pain levels. She seemed to know just when to offer words of reassurance and when to give him space, an intuition that Bucky appreciated more than he could express.

Y/n had seen her fair share of wounded soldiers over the years, but there was something about Bucky that set him apart. Perhaps it was the weight he carried in his eyes, the haunted look of someone who had lived through more than most could even imagine. She couldn't help but wonder about the man behind the soldier-the person who existed beneath the layers of trauma and scars.

One afternoon, as she was adjusting his IV, Bucky broke the silence that had settled between them. "You must see a lot of guys like me in here."

Y/n glanced up, meeting his gaze. "We get our share of soldiers, yes. But none quite like you."

Bucky raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his expression. "What do you mean?"

"You're... different," Y/n said carefully, choosing her words. "Most soldiers who come through here are dealing with physical injuries, but there's something else in your eyes. Something... deeper."

Bucky's jaw tightened slightly, the memories of his past flashing through his mind like a reel of horrors. "I've been through a lot," he said simply, his voice tinged with a weariness that spoke volumes.

Y/n nodded, her eyes softening. "I can see that. But you're still here, still fighting. That says a lot about who you are."

Bucky looked away, the weight of her words heavy on his shoulders. He wasn't sure how to respond. He had spent so long trying to distance himself from the Winter Soldier, from the man who had done so many terrible things, that he often forgot who he was beyond that. But Y/n's words stirred something in him-an inkling of the man he used to be, the man he wanted to be again.

As the days passed, Bucky found himself opening up to Y/n in ways he hadn't with anyone else in years. It started small-comments about the weather, the food, the monotonous routine of hospital life. But gradually, their conversations deepened, and Bucky began to share bits and pieces of his past.

He told her about Steve Rogers, the friend who had always believed in him, even when he couldn't believe in himself. He spoke of the 1940s, a time when life had been simpler, before the war, before everything had gone wrong. He even hinted at the battles he had fought in the shadows, though he kept the darkest details to himself.

Y/n listened with a quiet attentiveness, never pushing him to share more than he was ready to. She could sense the pain in his words, the guilt and regret that lingered just beneath the surface. But she also saw the strength in him, the resilience that had kept him going all these years, even when it felt like the world was against him.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow through the window, Y/n sat by Bucky's bedside, her shift nearly over. She had been thinking about him all day, wondering what it was about this man that made her care so deeply. It wasn't just his injuries or his past-there was something more, something that drew her to him in a way she couldn't quite explain.

"Bucky," she began, her voice soft in the quiet room. "Can I ask you something?"

Bucky turned his head to look at her, his blue eyes searching her face. "Sure."

"Why did you become a soldier?" she asked, her tone gentle, not wanting to pry too deeply but genuinely curious.

Bucky was silent for a moment, his gaze distant as he considered her question. It wasn't one he had been asked often-most people assumed they knew the answer. But Y/n wasn't most people.

"I didn't have much of a choice," he said finally, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. "The world was at war, and everyone was expected to do their part. But for me... it was about protecting the people I cared about. Steve, my family, my country. I wanted to do the right thing."

Y/n nodded, understanding the complexity of his answer. "And do you think you did?"

Bucky let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "I don't know. I tried, but things didn't turn out the way I thought they would. The world changed, and I... changed with it."

Y/n reached out, placing a hand gently on his hand. "You're still here, Bucky. That means you're still fighting for something. Maybe it's not the same as it was before, but that doesn't make it any less important."

Bucky looked down at her hand, the warmth of her touch seeping into his skin. For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope, a small spark that maybe, just maybe, he could find his way back to the man he used to be-or perhaps, become someone new entirely.

He wasn't sure what it was about Y/n but he found himself wanting to talk to her, to share the parts of himself that he usually kept hidden and he also wanted to get to know more about her.

"Why did you become a nurse?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

Y/n smiled softly, as if she had been expecting the question. "My brother," she said simply. "He's autistic. Growing up, I spent a lot of time taking care of him, making sure he had what he needed. It wasn't always easy, but it made me realize that I wanted to help people-people who couldn't always help themselves."

Bucky listened intently, sensing that this was something deeply personal for her. "That must have been hard," he said, his voice gentle.

"It was," Y/n admitted, her gaze distant as she recalled those early years. "But it also taught me a lot about patience, empathy, and resilience. I knew that I wanted to make a difference, even if it was in small ways. Nursing felt like the right path for me."

Bucky nodded, feeling a strange sense of connection with her. They were both people who had seen their fair share of hardship, who had been shaped by the challenges life had thrown at them. "Your brother's lucky to have you," he said sincerely.

Y/n's smile widened, a touch of warmth in her eyes. "Thank you, Bucky. That means a lot."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, her hand still placed gently on top of his, the hum of the hospital's night shift lulling them into a sense of calm. For Bucky, it was a rare feeling-peace, even if it was only temporary. He hadn't felt this way in a long time, not since before the war, before the Winter Soldier.

As the days turned into weeks, Bucky's wounds began to heal, though not as quickly as he would have liked. The serum was still working, but its effects were slowing down, leaving him with a lingering sense of vulnerability that was unfamiliar and unwelcome. But with Y/n by his side, the process didn't seem as daunting. She was patient, understanding, and more than anything, she made him feel... human. Her presence became more than just a comforting routine; it became something he looked forward to, a reason to keep fighting, to keep healing.

Y/n, for her part, found herself drawn to Bucky in a way she hadn't expected. There was something about him-his quiet strength, his haunted eyes, the way he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders-that resonated with her. She could see the pain he tried to hide, the scars that ran deeper than the physical ones, and she wanted to help him, to ease his burden even if just a little.

One evening, as Y/n was finishing up her shift, she found Bucky sitting up in bed, a rare smile playing on his lips. It wasn't the first time she had seen him smile, but it was the first time it felt genuine, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" she asked, her tone light as she walked over to his bedside.

Bucky looked up at her, his blue eyes bright with something she couldn't quite place. "I'm getting discharged tomorrow," he said, the words almost hesitant, as if he wasn't sure how she would react.

Y/n felt a mix of emotions-relief that he was well enough to leave, but also a pang of sadness at the thought of him not being here anymore. "That's great news," she said, her smile warm but tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"Yeah," Bucky agreed, though his smile faded slightly as he looked away. "But... I'm gonna miss our talks."

Y/n's heart skipped a beat, the sincerity in his words catching her off guard. She hadn't realized just how much their conversations had come to mean to him. "Me too," she admitted, her voice soft.

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the unspoken bond between them growing stronger with each passing second. Then, Bucky cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"Would you, uh, maybe want to grab a coffee sometime?" he asked, his voice almost shy, as if he wasn't sure if she would say yes.

Y/n's heart swelled with a mix of affection and something deeper, something she wasn't quite ready to name yet. "I'd like that," she replied, her smile genuine.

Bucky's relief was palpable, and for the first time since he had arrived at the hospital, he felt like maybe-just maybe-there was a future worth looking forward to.

The next day, when Bucky was discharged, Y/n walked him to the entrance of the hospital. They exchanged numbers, promising to keep in touch, and as Bucky stepped out into the crisp New York air, he couldn't help but feel that something had shifted within him.

He wasn't just leaving the hospital behind; he was leaving behind a part of himself that had been stuck in the past, weighed down by guilt and regret. And in its place, something new was growing-a hope, a possibility, a future that he hadn't dared to dream of in years.

As he walked away, he glanced back one last time, catching a glimpse of Y/n standing in the doorway, watching him with a soft smile on her lips. It was a sight that he would carry with him for days, weeks, and months to come-a reminder that, even in the darkest of times, there was still light to be found.

-----

Six months had passed since Bucky left the hospital, and in that time, he and Y/n had built something together - something real and fragile and beautiful. They had moved into a small but cozy apartment in Brooklyn - not far from where Y/n's father and brother lived - a place that had quickly become a sanctuary for both of them. It wasn't much, but it was theirs, a space where they could be themselves without the weight of the world pressing down on their shoulders.

But as much as Bucky had found peace in this new life, he couldn't shake the worry that gnawed at him every time he looked at Y/n. She had always been a hard worker, dedicated to her job and her family, but lately, it seemed like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Bucky knew about Y/n's family. She had told him about her father, a man who had once been full of life and strength, but who had been worn down by time and illness. Her father had raised her and her younger brother on his own after their mother passed away, working tirelessly to provide for them. But now, the roles had reversed. He was elderly, frail, and needed Y/n's help more than ever.

Then there was Y/n's brother, Austin. He was autistic, a gentle soul who saw the world differently than most. Y/n adored him, had always been protective of him, but his care was demanding. He needed structure, routine, and support that only Y/n seemed capable of providing. She had been his rock, guiding him through life's challenges, ensuring he had everything he needed. But it was exhausting work, both physically and emotionally.

Bucky admired her strength, but he could see the toll it was taking on her. He noticed the way her hands trembled when she thought he wasn't looking, the dark circles under her eyes that no amount of sleep seemed to erase. He had tried to talk to her about it, to ask her to take a step back and rest, but she always brushed him off with a tired smile and a promise that she was fine.

Bucky knew better. He had been in enough battles to recognize when someone was pushing themselves too hard, and Y/n was well past that point. But no matter how much he tried to help, she insisted on carrying the burden alone.

One evening, Bucky was in the kitchen, putting together a simple dinner. The sun had just begun to set, casting a warm, golden light through the windows. He was humming a tune under his breath, something he had picked up from the radio, when he heard the front door creak open.

"Hey, doll," he called out, turning to see Y/n stepping inside. "You're home late."

Y/n gave him a weary smile, her shoulders slumping as she closed the door behind her. "Yeah, it was a long shift," she said, her voice laced with exhaustion.

Bucky frowned, concern etching lines into his face. "You've been pulling too many of those lately," he said gently, crossing the room to take her bag from her hands. "You need to rest."

"I'm fine, Bucky," Y/n replied, though the strain in her voice betrayed her. "Just a little tired."

But as she stepped further into the apartment, Bucky noticed the way her legs wobbled, the way she seemed to be struggling just to stay upright. Before he could say anything, Y/n swayed on her feet, and he rushed forward just in time to catch her as she collapsed into his arms.

"Y/n!" Bucky's voice was filled with panic as he lowered her to the floor, his heart racing in his chest. Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow, and for a terrifying moment, he feared the worst.

"Y/n, please, wake up," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. His hands were trembling, the fear coursing through him like ice in his veins.

After what felt like an eternity, Y/n's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him with a dazed expression. "Bucky...?"

"I'm here, doll," Bucky said, relief flooding through him as he cradled her against his chest. "I've got you."

Y/n blinked, confusion clouding her gaze as she tried to sit up. "What happened?"

"You fainted," Bucky said softly, his voice thick with worry. "You've been pushing yourself too hard, and your body just couldn't take it anymore."

Y/n's brow furrowed, and she looked away, shame creeping into her expression. "I'm sorry, Bucky. I didn't mean to scare you."

Bucky shook his head, his grip on her tightening slightly. "Don't apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for. I just... I need you to stop doing this to yourself."

Y/n sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder as exhaustion weighed heavily on her. "I can't, Bucky. My dad and my brother... they need me. I have to keep going for them."

Bucky's heart ached at her words. He knew how much her family meant to her, how deeply she cared for them, but he couldn't stand the thought of her destroying herself in the process.

"I understand that," he said quietly, his voice filled with sincerity. "But you're no good to them if you run yourself into the ground. You need to take care of yourself, too."

Y/n closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek as she whispered, "But who's going to take care of them if I don't?"

Bucky felt a lump form in his throat as he listened to her words, the sheer weight of her responsibility crashing down on him. He knew what it was like to carry a burden like that, to feel like the whole world was resting on your shoulders. But he also knew that no one could carry that weight alone-not even someone as strong as Y/n.

"You're not alone," Bucky said, his voice gentle but firm. "We'll take care of them together. But right now, you need help."

Y/n tried to protest, but before she could say anything, Bucky reached for his phone and quickly dialed 911. "I'm calling an ambulance," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You need to be checked out properly."

"Bucky, no," Y/n murmured weakly, but she didn't have the strength to fight him. Her body was betraying her, exhaustion pulling her down like an anchor.

"I'm not taking any chances," Bucky said softly, his hand trembling slightly as he held the phone to his ear. "You scared me, Y/n. I can't-" His voice broke, and he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I can't lose you."

The minutes that followed felt like a blur. The paramedics arrived, moving quickly as they assessed Y/n's condition and prepared her for transport. Bucky stayed by her side, holding her hand, his heart pounding in his chest as they wheeled her out of the apartment and into the waiting ambulance.

The ride to the hospital was tense, the ambulance filled with the sound of medical equipment and the soft murmur of the paramedics as they worked to stabilize Y/n. Bucky sat beside her, clutching her hand tightly, his mind racing with fear and worry.

When they arrived at the hospital, the paramedics rushed Y/n into the emergency room, and Bucky found himself pacing the hallway outside, his thoughts spinning in a chaotic whirlwind. He had faced down enemies, survived wars, and fought battles that seemed impossible, but nothing had ever terrified him as much as seeing Y/n like this.

Hours passed, and Bucky was eventually allowed into Y/n's room. She was lying in a hospital bed, looking small and fragile under the stark white sheets. Her eyes were closed, her breathing even and calm, but Bucky could still see the signs of exhaustion etched into her face.

A doctor approached him, explaining that Y/n was severely dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion. They had administered fluids and were monitoring her closely, but she would need to rest for several days.

Bucky thanked the doctor, his mind barely registering the words. All he could focus on was Y/n, lying there so still and quiet. He sat down beside her bed, his hand gently resting on hers as he watched her sleep.

Time seemed to stand still in that small, sterile room. Bucky lost track of how long he sat there, his thoughts consumed with worry and guilt. He should have seen this coming, should have done more to help her before it got to this point. But he had been so caught up in his own struggles, in his own fears, that he hadn't realized just how much Y/n was carrying.

As he sat there, the weight of everything hit him all at once. The life they had built together, the challenges they had faced, the love they shared-it was all so precious, so fragile. And in that moment, Bucky knew he couldn't wait any longer.

Without thinking, without planning, he reached for Y/n's hand, holding it tightly in his own as he leaned forward. "Y/n," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

She stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she looked up at him. "Bucky...?"

"I'm here," he said softly, his heart pounding in his chest. "And I'm not going anywhere. Ever."

Y/n blinked, still groggy and disoriented, but she could see the intensity in Bucky's eyes, the way his jaw was set with determination. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bucky took a deep breath, his mind racing as he searched for the right words. But in the end, it wasn't about the words. It was about the promise he was about to make, the life he wanted to build with her, the love he felt deep in his soul.

"I love you," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I love you more than anything in this world. And I know I'm not perfect, I know I've got a lot of baggage, but... I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Y/n's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as she realized what he was saying.

"Y/n, will you marry me?" Bucky asked, his voice filled with raw, unfiltered emotion. "I know this isn't how I wanted to do it, and I don't even have a ring, but... I can't imagine my life without you. I need you, and I want to be with you, through everything."

Tears welled up in Y/n's eyes, her heart swelling with love as she looked up at the man who had become her everything. She didn't care that there wasn't a ring, didn't care that they were in a hospital room instead of some romantic setting. All she cared about was the man in front of her, the man who was offering her his heart, his life, his future.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Yes, Bucky, I'll marry you."

Bucky let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, a wide smile spreading across his face as he pulled her into his arms, holding her as if he would never let go. "You've made me the happiest man in the world," he said, his voice full of awe.

She smiled as she released herself from his arms and reached up, cupping his face in her hands as she pulled him down into a kiss-a kiss that was full of all the love and gratitude she felt for him. In that moment, all the worries and fears melted away, and it was just the two of them, their hearts beating in sync.

They might not have had all the answers, and the road ahead might still be uncertain, but one thing was clear: they were in this together, and nothing could tear them apart.

[sweet-self-indulgence]

Ingot bleeding through bandages on the wheel, I think that would be cool with Mika and Sam, whichever one is bleeding is up to you!

I have too many ideas for this! Here's one but I think I'll do a follow-up to it soon!

I really wanted to post this for Halloween, but I didn't have time to edit at all. So the real horror will be my typos!

Bleeding Out

What is says on the tin: warnings for graphic depictions of blood and gore

Mika hates when it’s her job to stay behind The house feels hollow when they’re not home. So, she sits in the front lawn, worrying the red string tied around her finger while she fails to read the book flopped open in the grass in front of her.  

Suddenly the string pulls taught. Mika’s body tenses.

I have to get inside. The spell is strongest there.

The book is abandoned as Mika sprints to the front door and yanks it open. The second her feet cross the threshold she’s shouting

“Raestrao! Uzaeris! Aomaris! Zecaeru! Izroul!”

Mika blinks away the blinding effects of five strobes of bright white light.

The scene is hauntingly familiar. The lobby floor is painted red with blood. It has a surprisingly strong metallic smell. A scent that Mika now recognizes as demon blood. Five boys-no incubi- are strewn across cool marble. Mika’s stomach churns. She fights the bile rising in her throat through uneven breaths.

For a moment the world stands still, an eerie echo of that fateful day all those years ago.

Then, like a painting come to life, the figures begin to stir. They grunt as they push themselves upright.

Mika lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding and finally manages to take in the reality of the situation. Matthew is closest to her, rotating his right shoulder and wincing. Mika kneels next to him and prys his left hand from away from his shoulder blade and into her lap. The hoodie underneath is wet with blood, but intact.

Before she can open her mouth to question him, Matthew locks eyes with her and calmly states, “I’m okay. My throwing arm is just tired.” He winces as he tries to lift his right arm, “Okay, maybe bruised…”

She gives him a small smile and helps him to his feet by his good arm. Mika glances around the rest of the room.

James is standing in front of one set of stairs, wiping blood from a cut on his cheek with a handkerchief. As if sensing Mika’s gaze, he turns to look at her. The lenses of his glasses are cracked. He pulls them off his face and frowns at them, before finally making eye contact with Mika and reassuring her, “It’s just a scrape from a bit of this glass—” He gestures with the mangled frames in his hands, “I am fine.”

Mika’s eyes flick to Damien shaking his head as he sits on the floor to her left. His entire right side is covered in blood. Mika falls to her knees in front of him. Damien looks up at her in alarm and his hand comes to the side of his head and comes away bloody. He looks down at his hand confused.

He doesn’t seem to be in pain. Mika notes and then quietly asks, “Is that your blood?”

He shakes his head. His eyes seem a little unfocused, Mika worries.

Suddenly Erik is beside her, his fingers gently trace his brother’s head, neck, and chest. The faintest purple glow emanates from his fingertips. “He’s pretty drained, and I bet feeling a bit whiplashed from the summoning.” Damien’s nod confirms his older brother’s diagnosis. Erik gently pats Damien’s head as he explains, “You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that he had about a dozen of his show clones out, that spell was severed rather suddenly by your summoning.”

Mika nods, then looks over at Erik. His left arm is holding his torso tightly. “Here, let me take a look”, Mika gently pulls at his sleeve.

“Oh I’ll live” Erik complains as he acquiesces, “Just caught a nasty kick to the ribs!”

Mika relaxes a fraction. They heal so fast they’ll probably wake up totally fine in the morning.A small smile pulls at her lips. This is just like that first time. I half expect someone to steal a kiss-

Mika’s face suddenly falls. She’s checked on everyone expect for—

“SAM!”

Her eyes are drawn like magnets to the pool of blood in the middle of the room, in the middle of it lies Sam. Or rather, Aomaris, in full demon form.

“nonononono”, Mika whispers under her breath. Her feet nearly slide out from under her as she sprints through the ever-growing pool of blood. Her knees land heavily at Sam’s side with a sickening splash.

Mika’s hands hover uselessly over the gaping hole in his abdomen. Oh God, his whole liver is gone, and maybe half of that lung. Her fingers twitch midair. It’s so close to his heart. Wait, does she even have a liver? Or any organs?

A thick pad of gauze suddenly lands in her hands, Matthew helps her press it over the wound. His voice shakes, “You hold it there, okay?” Mika nods silently and watches out of the corner of her eye as Matthew pulls out a strange looking sponge and starts soaking up the blood on the floor.

James and Erik are on the other side of Sam barking quickly at each other in Latin. Mika can feel the rapid-fire spells working through the layer of gauze under her hands.

She startles her hands are suddenly wet. “Matthew!”, her voice sounds high and desperate.

Matthew holds and even thicker bandage over Mika’s fingers, “swap in 3, 2, 1.” Mika chucks the soaking wad of gauze onto the floor and presses firmly on the fresh bandage Matthew placed.

A wordless scream suddenly rips its way out of Sam. Mika struggles to hold the compress in place as he writhes. Damien skitters across the floor on all fours, stopping by Sam’s head and clamping it between his hands. Sam suddenly goes limp and Damien rests his head in his lap.

The new gauze is ruined. “Matthew” Mika calls and they repeat the process to switch bandages. After a few seconds she murmurs, “he looks so pale…”

Erik calls for Matthew and he brings over the odd blood-soaked sponge. Erik digs the fingers of one hand into it while the other remains on Sam’s chest. As the blood slowly drains from the sponge, Sam feels incrementally warmer under Mika’s hands.

Damien hisses and holds his head with one hand. Sam moans lowly. James glances at Erik, who nods, before sliding behind Damien. James guides Damien’s hand back down to Sam’s head while resting his cheek on Damien’s hair. Damien slumps back into this brother, letting Jame’s fully support his weight while he concentrates on Sam.

“Mika!” Her name snaps her attention back to her hands, they’re so wet she didn’t feel the blood oozing under her fingers. She snatches the soaked bandage away just as Matthew produces a fresh one.

They continue their vigil for some time. Erik speaking in Latin almost continuously, maintaining a number of spells knitting furiously in Sam’s abdomen. James supplying Damien with the energy to keep Sam unconscious while Matthew and Mika swap out  bandage after bandage. Matthew tosses the old ones near the sponge in Erik’s hand where they slowly dissolve.

Eventually, Matthew leans his head on Mika’s shoulder in a wordless request for more energy. Mika leans her head onto his in answer. She tries to ignore the new wave of pain as she strains her arms and hands.

Glamor spells flicker out one by one. Damien grimaces as his horns and markings suddenly materialize. James pets his hair soothingly but returns to his true form only a few moments later. Matthew frowns as the next gauze pad he produces is noticeably thinner. He sits up as his horns materialize on the sides of his head and heaves a great sigh before producing another compress.

Erik grits his teeth. Mika’s only familiar with a handful of Latin phrases from her limited knowledge of spells, but she’s pretty sure he’s just cursing now.

Mika resists the urge to twitch her fingers against the uncomfortable sensation as they dry. Dry? She glances at the latest bandage, it’s still white apart from her bloody handprints.

As she looks back up there’s an audible fizzle and then a whoop from Erik, now unglamoured as well, “That’s it! I got it! There’s no more poison!”

There’s a moment of celebration. Everyone with free hands claps Erik on the back. The sense of elation is short-lived as exhaustion rolls quickly in behind it.

James props Sam upright while Mika, Matthew, and Erik quickly tie a bandage around his middle. They manage to lift him and settle him on the couch. James and Erik sit in the arm chairs and quickly fall asleep. Matthew and Damien pass out in a pile on the smaller couch. Mika curls up by the side of the couch and rests her head on the cushion near Sam’s chest.

She doesn’t realize she’s fallen asleep until a movement disturbs her. She opens her eyes to see Sam’s smiling face, “You all look like shit.”

[commoncorps3]

lol im not sure my mental and physical health has ever been this bad.

im kinda suicidal again instead of just being numb, empty, and having depersonalization/derealization but I don’t even know who to tell. my friends are probably getting overwhelmed with me/tired of me doing so bad all the time. it’s gotta be a real bummer. can’t tell my family bc they freak out or the complete opposite just tell me it’s gonna be ok. my girlfriend has DID and hasn’t fronted in several days because she’s been having a hard time mentally and physically so one of her alters (who I am not dating) has been in control. this alter doesn’t really talk to me nearly as much as my gf usually does so my bpd (and general shit mental health atm) is having a fucking field day with that. i miss her a lot. Unrelated to her but I don’t sleep or eat enough. my house is disgusting and I can’t get myself to clean it. the stupid lexapro my psych made me try gave me so many fucking side effects and I stopped taking it days ago and I’m still having the worst fucking time. i have so many bruises and scabs from how bad my skin picking has gotten from the medicine. my jaw hurts so bad bc the med made me start clenching it/gritting my teeth all the time now. my teeth feel so weak and sensitive like I’m scared they’re gonna fucking break into pieces when I eat. my acne got worse too but idk if that’s bc of the medicine or bc my hormones are crazy OR bc I’ve been on my period for basically two months at this point. i have sores on my tongue that are painful and overstimulating just to feel and i want to bite them off or something. my wisdom teeth are hurting too. im so tired. I have no excitement. im just detached from life. I’m not enjoying anything. people’s concern for me is not even fucking hitting me like it should be. I’ll be like “I want to kms” and they’ll be like “holy shit I’m worried about you i love you don’t die” and I’m just like “🤷”. it’s very frustrating. everyday feels like a shitty dream. but i never wake up. ive barely even been listening to music. which is fucking wild for me. I just listen to YouTube at work. and it’s mostly like videos on disturbing/scary shit lately. like shit I’ve barely even touched before the last few weeks. I don’t know why I’m suddenly so interested in really fucked up stuff but nothing else hits the same. I guess I subconsciously just wanna feel something. so fear and discomfort is my go-to. I’m always in pain. I have the desire to abuse drugs or drink or SOMETHING to make myself feel better. but I still really don’t even do that. oh yeah and I relapsed twice this week. once wasn’t that bad but the second time was pretty fucking rough. it’s even worse bc I literally broke apart someone’s fucking shaving razor at my friend’s house and used one of the blades. then had to wake my friend up bc the cuts wouldn’t stop bleeding. I need serious help. I don’t want to be hospitalized though. I did that earlier this year and it was a complete waste of time. I wish I could just die. I’m so tired of pushing through this hell. And I can’t help but think “well i guess it could be worse” which is true but also every time I think that something else happens. I want out. Please. I wish I had the fucking balls to kill myself like ive wanted to for the past like 12 years. No one can help me. I can’t even help me. I genuinely don’t know what to do. I take the medicine. I go to therapy. I reach out to loved ones for help. I try to live my life. But it’s not fucking working. I’m so miserable.

[the-hydroxian-artblog]

Ok so I know it's all one big if and probably won't happen but I gotta rant about it, so if metal has to go to another ZONE just to see shard does that mean he doesn't exist in mets zone already or is already.. ahem, d e ad, and if so would that mean it could just casually pop up in conversation, they're just chilling until shard goes "ay what's your zone like" and mets unintentionally blurts out "you're dead" and shards just- staring at him

PART 2 OF THE SHARD RANT BECAUSE TUMBLR HAS ME IN A BASEMENT- would metal have to go stealth mode or something? Because it's another zone and everyone still thinks he's a bad guy so it's right back to everyone wanting to either punch you in the face or run and find someone who will punch you in the face, again I know it probably won't happen but my brain won't leave me alone

See, Phage is the exception of Archie folk in this canon; literally no one else from Archie, at the time of writing this, is in the Hangin Out zone. Phage is a weird anomaly, so Shard just doesn't exist in this zone. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if Metal is actually aware of Shard and other versions of him existing in other zones. Maybe Eggman Nega made Metal Sonic 3.0 in Hangin Out's Sol dimenson, and that one became Shard? ....or maybe that wouldn't make sense since he's encountered Sonic fewer times and he'd make a metal blaze instead... maybe she's called will-o-wisp.. willow... wisp powers.. maybe looks like that prototype shadow desig--

--I'm getting severely off-track.

Metal would likely walk around as Mike instead. I wouldn't at all be shocked if Mike commonly has to deal with all sorts of pushback in other zones once people catch on. He takes it in stride, though.

another anon asked: I LOVE your portrayal of phage, even if I may have never gotten the chance to see her in the comics but not the point- do you have anything to info dump for her?

So basically this is one of those cases where I liked a character so much I forcefully yanked them out and ran off with them.

Phage is the Auto-Empire's head of Research and Development, specializing in infrastructure, weapons, and simulation technology. She's the reason why Eggmanland takes like an hour to beat in Sonic Unleashed, and why Metropolis Zone has all of those evil starfish. She's the less-than-benevolent architect of Eggman's wildest dreams, and is the last link to all the evil shit the Empire used to get up to. In this zone, she was the game designer to the Sonic Simulator from Sonic Colors as well, and was at the top of the leader boards before the whole amusement park exploded. Ever notice how the final stages of Sonic games always had... a personality of sorts? Eggman's bases are always vast, large, and maddeningly designed. This is pretty much Phage's personality bleeding into her work, as-programmed and supervised by Eggman.

Despite this, she herself is only amoral; Phage has no actual concept of pain, and is deeply curious. As a result, she designs things that inflict pain, so that she can understand what it does to people and how it works. She's committed to science and science only though, so as long as Orbot has new technologies for her to develop and test, she's sated.

Her habit of saying synonyms in quick succession ("Confused? Perplexed? Unsure?") is a side-effect of her quirk of wanting to always do things repetitively. She's a scientist! She tests! She has to trial everything! She needs to do everything over and over again to make sure results are consistent! what do you mean it doesn't make sense? what do you mean it's illogical? what do you mean it's incoherent?

also while I'm here,

another anon asked: have you ever heard about rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles? even if you're not a big fan of the turtles, i totally recommend you to give it a try because of the animation and style, it is great!

I've seen bits of it, looks cool! As a fan of 2003 tmnt I like that it's got an even stronger angular style to it.

[sweeethinny]

Everything will be alright

this story is going to be about missed abortion, I know it's a sensitive topic, so if you don't feel comfortable with it, I don't recommend reading this story. Missed abortion is when the fetus is not expelled, remaining in the uterus for weeks or months, and there are some possible reactions, like bleeding or disappearance of normal pregnancy reactions - like nausea

i know it's not usually possible to hear the baby's heart in the first few months, but i believe that magical obstetrics is much more evolved than ours :)

I was inspired by real stories to write this story, and I hope you like it <3

To the Anon who asked me for this <3

music indication: Sing of the Time - Harry Style

AO3

---------

They weren't trying to have a baby, they had been talking about trying two years from now, but Ginny wasn't going to say she wasn't at least a little excited when she found out she was pregnant.

It was scary, she and Harry were silent for almost fifteen minutes staring at the muggle tests and the orange potion in front of them, both of them sitting on the floor of the small bathroom in their apartment. Ginny cried when Harry said, 'We'll be parents.'

She was happy, but first of all, Ginny was feeling desperate. They had just gotten married, and had probably gotten pregnant on their honeymoon, Harry had been promoted and was traveling more than ever and she had managed to sign a five-year contract with the Harpies as Chaser, moving from being a reserve to being the most new star of the team.

They didn't have the time and were not prepared to have a child.

Teddy had just turned three and Ginny thought how difficult it was being to have time with him, trying to make the day last longer so that at least three days a week they saw each other, or when they couldn't, he would go there at the end of week. They couldn't do that with a baby, one of them would have to give up to stay home, and Ginny felt awful for hoping that person was Harry.

She didn't want to stay home, not when her life had just started.

And she knew that Harry thought so too.

But deep down, she was happy, and she was happy to see how happy Harry was. He even bought a baby outfit the next day that was patterned with several bears; panda, brown and polar. It was the most adorable thing Ginny had ever seen.

"We'll make it work, I promise," Harry whispered to her one night, a week after they found out about the pregnancy. He kissed her forehead and hugged her, making her feel safe as all those insecurities spilled over again and Ginny started to cry.

They didn't tell anyone, it was too early yet and Ginny thought it would be best to hold back this information for a while, just in case something went wrong. But she and Harry started to walk around the children's stores much more than usual, now and then buying a teddy bear, an outfit, a shoe, they even considered buying a crib, but she said there was no way to hide a crib and if anyone came by surprise at their house, they would have to tell.

And her father would probably want to build one for his first grandson, Ginny thought.

As the days went by, Ginny became more excited about the news, nothing to overcome her anxiety and nervousness, but she was already happier than when she found out. She even started talking to her stomach when she was going to take a shower, and that encouraged Harry to do the same.

"Daddy and Mommy love you so much already," he whispered before the fateful night, lying with his head on top of Ginny's bare stomach, smoothing her skin and smiling passionately.

And the next morning, Ginny faced what would be the worst day of her life for a long time.

It was almost five in the morning when she woke up thinking she was going to wet her bed for the third time that night, running to the bathroom still half-drowsy, trying not to trip over their mess strewn across the floor. They needed to clean the house urgently.

For Ginny it was a normal dawn, she had been feeling this urge to pee more often now, and she was glad that at least that was it instead of the morning sickness from before. It was harder to hide when she threw up than when she needed to go to the bathroom.

She needed to tell Gwenog, she remembered too.

She would do it today, they had practice at eight and Ginny would talk to her as soon as she got to the field. Afterwards, she would stop at the burrow, because she was missing her mum's hug and eating her biscuits with tea. And thinking about Molly made Ginny's eyes water for some reason. She was getting pretty emotional these past few days.

When her bladder seemed to deflate completely and Ginny cleaned herself up, she screamed much louder than would be respectable at this time of morning. But it didn't matter, she couldn't even hear her voice properly, nor Harry's as he ran to the bathroom, because her hand shook and her vision began to blur with tears, the paper in front of her now smeared with blood.

The sight of her blood-spattered thighs and panties made her scream even more. It was an endless nightmare and Ginny hoped she would manage to wake up in the end.

But she didn't wake up. She didn't wake up when she arrived at the hospital, nor when the healers took her to a room and laid her on the gurney, asking Harry several questions once they realized that Ginny couldn't answer.

She felt paralyzed, still seeing the blood on the paper and wondering how she was able to let this happen. It was a nightmare that seemed to take her closer and closer to the dark at the bottom of the well, and Ginny was reminded of when she thought that a child was not what she wanted now.

Now there were no more children to disturb her dreams. There was no one else stopping her.

Are you happy, Ginevra? She screamed to herself, not even knowing how she still managed to cry.

It felt like a century had passed when the healer Lana took her hand, a kind smile on her face. ‘Let's take you to the exam room, ok? Let's see how the baby is going.'

Ginny nodded, and again she tried to close her eyes so the nightmare would end, but when she opened it, she saw Harry beside her, holding hands with her as someone pushed her gurney down the hospital corridor, the white walls made everything even sadder.

"It'll be alright, I promise," Harry whispered as they entered the exam room, which was dark and cold, even more so than the rest of the building. But Ginny knew, she felt, that it wouldn't be, so she cried more.

“We're going to apply a balm to your belly so we can hear the baby.” She heard the woman say, and for the next minute after feeling something cold touch her belly, they didn't hear anything.

It was as if the whole world had fallen apart and Ginny had been buried under the rubble.

Worst pain of her life, forget tortures with the Carrows or Umbridge, that silence was worse than anything.

It probably hurt more than dying, Ginny thought, wishing she were dead.

She didn't remember much of what happened afterward, only that Harry never left her side, crying along with Ginny when they returned to the room and the healer came out to call someone. She remembered hearing them say they needed to remove the fetus. Her baby.

"I'm here," Harry whispered sometime during the day, sitting beside Ginny's bed, running a hand through her hair and kissing her temple.

"I killed him, Harry." Ginny sobbed, squeezing his hand and starting to cry again. ‘I thought I didn't want to have a child, I thought that-’

"No, Gin, no." As he managed, he hugged her, keeping her safe in his arms. “It wasn't you, no, no… The doctor said it could have been several things, but none of them were you.” He ran a hand through her hair, tightening his grip as she sobbed into his chest again. 'It was not you.'

The next few hours were the saddest of her life, being taken to and fro for exams, healers touching her... her belly, her vulva. And not that they were rude or anything, they were all very polite and they talked about every little thing they were doing to her, always asking her how she felt and always allowing Harry to be by her side. But it was the pain of having someone touch you, she thought, to prepare you for what could be the worst moment in your life; they were touching Ginny preparing her to pull her dead baby out of her, and it hurt so much more than she could ever put it into words.

'It's a potion to get us to induce an abortion, you can rest assured that we'll do everything to make this moment the least painful for you, alright?' Healer Amy smiled at her, a gentle and sad smile, her hands on over Ginny's. She didn't think she would have any other pain that surpassed what she was already feeling, so she nodded, unable to speak. The woman looked at the other healer, who handed over a vial of bluish liquid, and Harry helped Ginny sit down to drink.

It tasted like death, bitter and iron, and it made Ginny want to throw up, but maybe it was just because she knew why that potion worked that she felt even more disgust.

To take my baby out of me, she thought as she lay back down, my dead baby.

‘Let's wait a few minutes for the potion to take effect and we'll be right back. How do you feel?” Destroyed. Empty.

Ginny nodded, not knowing what to say. 'Fine.'

‘I know this is a difficult time, Ms. Potter, don't hesitate to ask our help with whatever it is, okay? We have a psychologist on duty today, and you.” She looked at Harry. “And you, sir, can ask to speak with her.” They both nodded, and the healer was gone again.

The silence made Ginny need to close her eyes to keep from starting to cry again, she felt Harry's lips on her fingers and then on her forehead. “We'll be fine, I promise. I'm here with you.” She nodded.

“I love you.” She looked up at him, already sensing she was going to cry again. Harry was crying too. 'So much.'

'I love you so much too. It barely fits inside my chest.' Ginny wiped the tears from his face, feeling the least bit happy in the midst of that storm because Harry was there with her.

[...]

When they left the Hospital the next morning, Ginny had been given a two-and-a-half week layoff from the Harpies on medical advice, and Robards had turned off Harry so he could stay with Ginny.

It was Harry who told Molly and Arthur what had happened, while Ginny was lying on the bed, watching as her mother sobbed and ran to hug her, her father right behind. She was still in shock, and the psychologist had said it was a normal reaction after trauma, but that Ginny had to try to tell the people she trusted the most for more support.

Her mom kept coming to their house or calling them on Floo at least once a day to make sure they were okay. She would bring Ginny cookies, stay with her in bed, hug her when Ginny started crying again, and watch TV with her daughter. Ginny didn't even bother to look like a needy child who called her mum when she was scared, because Ginny felt that was what she wanted, and Molly didn't seem to mind at all.

When it was a week old, they told Hermione and Ron, which was good too. The more Ginny talked, the pain seemed to get a little less. It was as if she gave each person a piece of pain, and the weight on her shoulders lessened and it was easier to live.

It still hurts, a lot. But it got a little easier.

On Saturday, after 10 days, Harry left in the morning to go to the market and Ginny was left alone watching TV, a cooking show that was a little too chaotic but made her smile and forget about life for a bit, following the pairs running against the time for making cupcakes and trying to win a prize.

Harry arrived two hours later when Ginny was watching a movie about a millionaire who fell in love with a prostitute. It was a pretty story, and the actors were pretty handsome too, which helped a lot in keeping her entertained.

'I thought you had lost your way home.' She said when she saw Harry enter the room, grinning from ear to ear and looking like a kid who's up to something and doesn't want his parents to find out. 'What happened?'

'Close your eyes.'

‘Harry, what-’

"Close your eyes." Ginny sighed but did as he asked, waiting for whatever it was he had bought her. Harry liked to give her presents when she was sad, Ginny found that out over time.

She felt something being propped up beside her, it was a little heavy and soft, and… did it have paws?

"Surprise!" Harry grinned even wider as she opened her eyes, watching the small caramel dog beside her, huge black eyes glaring at her, short furless tail swinging from side to side, ears pricked up intently. "There was an animal adoption fair near the market, and I saw this little one and they told me he was abandoned on the road and needed someone who could love and care for him."

Ginny's heart melted, and for the first time in 10 days her eyes filled with tears but for something other than sadness. The dog looked at her hopefully, eagerly waiting for her to do anything. When she reached out to pick him up, he seemed to smile and licked her face as if in thanks.

‘He already has a name, it's Sir...We could change, but I liked it... He looks pretty sassy, like me-’

"When you said Snape didn't need to call you Professor." Ginny laughed, still holding the little dog in her lap. He had a lovely puppy smell, his belly swollen and warm, and his little paws were resting on her chest, his nails still too small to hurt her. ‘I love it, babe.’

‘I remembered that you had said that our house seemed lifeless, and what is better to give life than a dog? Right?'

'Totally.'

'And since neither you nor I have ever had one, I thought it would be cool.' Harry sat on the bed next to her and Sir, who was now lying in her arms like he really was a baby, his head close to her elbow and his paws hanging one on either side of her arm. "I told you she was going to love you," he muttered to the animal. 'The vet said he wouldn't grow much.'

"That's good, we don't have much space in the apartment."

[dxfiedfxte-a]

@hxpelessnurse​​​ || Starter Call

After clearing the palace of former yakuza boss Kaneshiro’s palace and becoming an officially supporting member of the Phantom Thieves, Minato unfortunately had to return to work, one of the reasons why he had decided to become a supporting member who would help them out when he could, and when they needed it, almost like how he was with the Shadow Operatives, being a member of the auxiliary reserve staff, the only difference was that he was a full time member and was a bit more active then the rest of his friends only because he wanted to be more involved since he also had a passion to help continue the fight against shadows for as long as he could.

Thankfully, with the last palace cleared, he wasn’t too worried about the others, the Phantom Thieves would get a bit of a break until the next target was found, so there would at least be some peace for a little while. For now, he’d be able to focus on his career but would still join them in mementos on the occasion when he was free, they had his number and he had encourage them to call should they ever need his help. With that settled, Minato had went to work. He investigated one of the most prominent haunted locations Tokyo had to offer, Komine Tunnel located on Akikawa Highway in Kamikawa within the Saitama Prefecture. Him and the other two had spent pretty much the whole night in that tunnel, and they had captured copious amounts of hard paranormal evidence. Like always, Minato used the tactic of provocation, whenever he agitated or offended a spirit, they were more inclined to show their presence.

He had contacted the little girl spirit and even gave her an offering, while the provocation was used on the cannibalistic murders spirit, and it worked. Not only did they had several heavy things thrown at them, but above all, the most chaotic response, was Minato being scratched 3 times on his back, and they were pretty deep too, he could feel himself bleeding. Thankfully, this had been near the end of the investigation and he had managed to fight through the pain long enough to say his closing dialogue like he always finished off an episode off with.

About five minutes after they went off air, he had lost consciousness due to blood loss. Thankfully, A friend of Takashi’s was driving by after he got his attention, the friend had easily agreed to help rush him to the hospital. In the car, they had managed to stop the bleeding, for now at least. After blacking out, he awakens in a health clinic that he’d actually been to a few times, he remembered Joker showing him this place. Finally returning to full consciousness, he expected to see Tae here, but instead it was someone else, young lady seemingly around his age, he assumed she was Tae’s assistant. The first thing he noticed, was that his upper abdomen had been bandaged, it wrapped all around him, covering his back where the three scratch marks were.

[{ 🦋 }] - “Hnnnnnugh...”

Slowly sitting himself up after shifting around a bit, he lets out a small audible groan which probably drew her attention as she seemed to look his way the moment she heard him.

[{ 🦋 }] - “Since Takemi-San isn’t in today, I’m guessing you fixed me up? Well thank you.” He tries to stand up, but finds himself still a bit shaky, probably from the side effects of whatever she had used to keep him asleep while he was stitched up. Quickly he sits himself back down.

[{ 🦋 }] - “Whoa... guess it’s still too early to stand huh?”

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt: JC discovers that he has the power to prevent the death of someone if he dies for them, like not real Death more like I experience the pain of dying like they should have and the person he saves remembers that they died but everything else is more or less okay. Now tell me how canon goes and how the Jiangs feel :) ps: I love everything u write and JC is my favorite so I want u to make me suffer for ever giving u this idea

1

“You are never allowed to do this again,” Jiang Cheng’s mother said, her voice harsh in the way that means she was scared, because she hated being scared. “Never again, you hear me?”

“I hear you, a-niang,” Jiang Cheng said. He was still dazed and dizzy from it, whatever it was – he’d just wanted to save the poor cat from the bullies, and he wasn’t entirely sure how he’d gone from wrestling with a few of them (that was a generous way of putting it, he’d been getting his ass kicked) to suddenly having his head cracked open and bleeding. “Did it live?”

“Yes, of course it lived, and then it ran away because it was a stray,” Madame Yu snapped. “You’re the one that nearly died! You can’t – death-sharing is a rare gift, A-Cheng, but you can’t use it too often, you hear me? Every time you use it, your own life gets shorter. You must never do it again. And you mustn’t tell anyone else about it! No one at all! Swear to me!”

“I swear,” he said. “No one at all.”

2

There was a time limit by which he could effectively death-share with someone, and that’s why he was desperate to get back to the Lotus Pier after they’d finally gotten loose again. The time limit, and the condition of the body – the more damaged it was, the worse it was, the harder to bring them back and the less good their condition to come back was, and worst of all, the people involved would be woken up right where their corpses were.

If he wanted to save his parents’ lives, they had to get the bodies.

He explained this to Wei Wuxian as they were running.

“You can do what with dead people?!” Wei Wuxian said, stunned, but Jiang Cheng tugged his hand. “Okay. We’ll think of something.”

“I’ll be the distraction while you get the bodies,” Jiang Cheng said firmly. “They’re more interested in me than you, since I’m the heir and you’re just annoying – and there’s a better chance that they’ll want to take me prisoner or something.”

“You don’t know that.”

“The signs said that they wanted me and jiejie alive. That’s something.”

“It’s your life you’re risking!”

“I’m willing to risk it,” Jiang Cheng said, but he hadn’t thought about how Wen Chao had Wen Zhuliu at his side.

At least, he thought to himself, by the time Wen Zhuliu melted his golden core, he’d already suffered through the same thing having happened to his father, too.

It didn’t help.

3

Jiang Fengmian and Madame Yu were still weak from the assault at the Lotus Pier, their cultivations severely damaged by the battle and the aftereffects of the death-sharing after being dead for too long for the process to go smoothly, so Wei Wuxian hid them away in a carriage and sent them back to Meishan Yu before returning to the Lotus Pier to rescue Jiang Cheng.

It made sense now, of course, why Jiang Cheng had wanted to be the distraction: he’d screamed a lot, when he death-shared, screaming and thrashing in agony as his body opened up simulacra wounds to mimic the ones suffered by the deceased. There would have been no way to hide him, much less for him to steal the corpses.

Rescuing Jiang Cheng led to Wen Ning, and Wen Ning led to Wen Qing, and Wen Qing –

It was worth it, Wei Wuxian thought to himself, his teeth gritted as he stared up into the unforgiving night sky of Yiling. It was worth it.

After all, Jiang Cheng would do the same for him in a heartbeat. Hadn’t he just seen that?

4

“That was incredibly stupid,” Madame Yu said irritably. “Incredibly stupid. You can’t keep hiding people who should be dead in Meishan, you know that, right?”

“What was I supposed to do?” Jiang Cheng said, throwing up his hands. “Let shijie be widowed? Leave A-Ling to grow up without his father?”

Wei Wuxian had let Wen Ning run rampage on everyone else there, grabbed Jin Zixuan’s corpse and fled at once; Jiang Cheng, upon hearing the news, had rushed to Meishan as well and now they had a living body where they had previously had a corpse except they couldn’t tell anyone about it.

“Your ability is the sort of thing that starts wars, Jiang Cheng,” Jin Zixuan said, rubbing his face. “If anyone found out you brought me back…maybe you should have let A-Li be widowed.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Jiang Cheng said. “You just have to – I don’t know – hide out for a while. That’s what we did with A-die and A-niang. Nobody knows they’re still alive…”

“That’s only because Uncle Jiang doesn’t have a golden core anymore, and Madame Yu didn’t want to come back,” Wei Wuxian pointed out. “Couldn’t we come up with some sort of story or something…?”

“There were a lot of witnesses to what happened, and Wen Ning didn’t kill all of them. He was pretty dead.”

“Damnit. I need to get back to Yiling, then; there’ll be reprisals about this.” Wei Wuxian shook his head. “Whatever you do, don’t use your death sharing on me, okay?”

“Get lost,” Jiang Cheng said. “And don’t do anything stupid.”

Wei Wuxian left.

“He’s going to do something stupid, isn’t he?” he asked his mother.

“Shut up and drink your damn medicine,” Madame Yu said. “You still have a fist-sized hole in your chest.”

Her fingers were gentle in his hair.

5

Jiang Cheng opened his eyes to the smell of soup. “Jiejie?” he asked, voice raspy.

“I knew it would work!” Wei Wuxian crowed. “I told you he’d wake up if you made him soup!”

“Yes, yes, A-Xian, you’re a genius,” Jiang Yanli said. “A-Cheng, how are you feeling?”

He considered it.

“Like I’ve been stabbed several times, and then ripped apart by a horrific backlash of power within the same day,” he said honestly.

“You’ve been unconscious for a long while,” she said, worrying her lip. “We didn’t know if you’d wake up.”

“I told you not to do it!” Wei Wuxian said, stabbing at him with his finger. “I told you -!”

Jiang Cheng glared at him. “You don’t have a golden core.”

“What?” Jiang Yanli said, even as Wei Wuxian froze.

“I can feel what happens to a golden core when someone’s dying,” Jiang Cheng said. “You don’t have one. At all…you gave it to me, didn’t you? All that bullshit about Baoshan Sanren, that was all lies, wasn’t it? And Wen Qing did the transfer?”

“Oh, A-Xian..!”

“You’d have done it for me,” Wei Wuxian exclaimed. “You – you did do it for me. Just now. You screamed so much…it was worth it.”

“You still should have told us,” Jiang Cheng said. “Now you’re going to have to hide away for the rest of your life! Just like a-die and a-niang!”

“A-Xuan and I are quite happy living as Jiang sect retainers, if you can get partial custody of A-Ling,” Jiang Yanli put in. “And a-die and a-niang are really enjoying their retirement in Meishan Yu, actually.”

“Everyone would figure it out if someone who looked even a little bit like Wei Wuxian showed up in the Lotus Pier, though.”

“Why don’t you have him go to Gusu?” Jin Zixuan asked from the door. “Hanguang-jun’s only been in love with him forever; he’ll agree.”

They all turned to stare at him.

“What?” he asked, clearly puzzled. “I know it’s one of those things we never talk about, but surely it’s the right time to –”

“He’s in what with me?” Wei Wuxian demanded.

“…you didn’t know?”

“No!” Jiang Cheng exclaimed. “Nobody would think that!”

“But it’s so obvious…?”

“Well,” Jiang Yanli said practically. “It would solve the problem, wouldn’t it? No one would expect A-Xian to resurrect himself in the Cloud Recesses. We could give you a nice new name…how do you feel about ‘Mo’?”

[raineeskiesabove]

What about angsty Venlumi like Venti taking an arrow for Lumine?

Hi anon, I made this into a oneshot if that’s okay. I’m not sure what I wrote, since I did it while I’m feeling ill so uh;;; enjoy? eheh...

The Stars Will Not Take You | Venti x Lumine Oneshot

It was supposed to be a simple commission. Take out the hilichurl camp, remove any leftover structures, collect and go home. Venti had been there. He was supposed to protect her. So why, instead of singing and laughing with her that evening, he was holding onto her lifeless hand, with the fleeting hope that she would awaken?

As the walked along the road bordering the outskirts of Monstadt, Venti hummed playfully, practicing a new song as they walked. Despite being on their way to a potentially dangerous commission, Venti was as happy as ever. Lumine chuckled to herself, stealing glances at his cheerful smile. She increased her grip around his fingers slightly, relishing in the warmth of his skin against hers. It was moments like this that made her feel at ease. He made her feel like everything would be alright, which is something she desperately needed to stave off the flood of doubts and fears that plagued her mind.

“Venti,” she placed her index finger against her lips, emphasizing for him to quiet himself. They had reached the hilichurl camp.

Huddled in a nearby bush, Lumine’s eyes widened upon seeing the horde occupying the camp. The commission paper stated that the group would be small, not an entire tribe. Maybe more.

“Lumi I don’t know about this. There are too many for simply making a pretty penny. And there are only two of us,” he whispered, the singsong tone in his voice now gone.

Lumine shook her head, “No, we need this money. I’m running low from buying supplies and we must move forward soon. We can’t waste time, Venti,” she explained, face and voice steady as stone.

Venti sighed, his grip now tightening around her slightly smaller hand.

He shook his head, “I cannot allow this. What if something goes amiss?” His words rang in his ears, the realization that he trespassed on his own principles made him bite his tongue.

“We’ll be alright, I can take them. As long as you support me from the rear, that money is as good as ours.”

The bard looked away, his eyebrows knit in a slight scowl. Who was he to stop her? Lumine was free to make her own choices, even if it meant putting herself at risk.

“Fine. I shall support you. Please be careful,” he pleaded.

She brushed a hand against his cheek, kissing his forehead softly in reassurance. Offering him a small smile, she whispered that she would be careful, before standing to lead their small siege.

Initially, the attack went well. Venti used his winds to knock the hilichurls off their feet, giving Lumine more time to clear the way. She fought gracefully, her sword slicing through her enemies effortlessly, her footwork more akin to a dancer than a fighter. Venti consciously told himself to focus, for fear of growing lost in her performance, and yet, the windward god still failed.

“Venti, look out!”

He heard her, but it was much too late to react, the next moment bringing him back to a harsh reality. A sharp pain erupted at his shoulder, an arrow imbued with pyro had struck him. The bard let out a yelp in pain, the arrow burning him from the inside out. The chants of the hilichurls grew louder, now closing in on his vulnerable form. He used his other hand to channel Anemo to hold them off, but it proved difficult to cast with only one arm.

“Venti!” Lumine shouted through a crowd of hilichurls, the monsters falling at her hand as she drew closer to him.

“Lumi, don’t! There are too many! Retreat before- ” his sentence was cut off by another arrow, this time one imbued with electro, sunken deeply into his thigh. His leg twitched at the sensation, the jolts of electricity making his leg grow limp and numb.

“Venti, no!”

For the first time, Venti saw fear flash through Lumine’s golden eyes, her complexion growing pale from seeing her beloved being slowly chipped away. It was impossible for her to reach him, the hilichurls creating an impassable barrier between them. He offered a small smile, mouthing for her to go, praying that she would follow his orders. As he did so, yet another arrow struck his small frame, this time cryo against his side. The impact made him cough, blood spilling from the corners of his lips. She couldn’t stand it anymore. With a strangled cry, she used all of her power to summon a tornado, the sheer force causing many of the monsters to grow caught up in the storm. The larger mitachurls, however, remained unfazed, only growing irritated by the gusts of wind. In her worry, Lumine failed to notice this, ignoring them in favor of making a mad dash towards the staggered Venti.

As a seasoned archer, it was common knowledge that arrows should not be pulled out, for fear of excessive bleeding. But gods, did the added elemental damage hurt. Admittedly, he grew more hopeful as Lumine grew closer, happy that she had fought so hard to protect him.

His happiness quickly dissipated, however, upon seeing a mitachurl charging straight for her. Lost in her emotions, Lumine’s reaction was slowed, her sword only enough to reduce the severity of the major slice the monster inflicted across her midsection.

No. No, no, no. This wasn’t happening.

Immediately, Venti pulled all three arrows from his body, blood already soaking through his clothing as he drew his bow to fire. His shoulder burned as he released Wind’s Grand Ode, the force of the bowstring making him hiss in pain. With the mitachurl out of the way, Venti rushed to Lumine, her form now twisted and lifeless against the bloodstained grass.

“Lumi!”

Her entire chest and abdomen had been sliced open, blood pooling around her unconscious form. He placed his hands against the wound to curb the bleeding, but at this rate she didn’t have long to live.

“No, no. Celestia, no! Lumine, you can’t die on me!”

Already, his hands were dyed red with her blood, her breathing growing extremely shallow and faint. He felt tears begin to stream down his face as he wailed hopelessly. They were miles from the nearest statue or Monstadt, and he himself could barely walk, let alone carry her.

“It is unlike you to be bested so easily in battle, Lord Barbatos,” a voice thundered.

Venti looked up, finding himself face to face with Dvalin, a previous member of the Four Winds. A dear friend of his.

Venti sniffed, trying to wipe away the snot running down his face. “D-dvalin. My friend, I plead for your aid in this hour of need. Not for myself, but for her. Please, help me to protect what I hold most dear,” he sobbed.

Dvalin blinked. Never had he seen the archon so vulnerable. So devastated. The warm smile and bouts of laughter that typically sounded from him were nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by a look that made his heart grow heavy.

“A statue, or Monstadt, my lord?”

“Monstadt. This wound is too complex for the statue’s effects.”

He never left her side. Regrettably, he snapped at the clerics when they asked him to leave and return in the morning, to which he refused to do so. Now, alone with her sleeping form, Venti sighed, rubbing his thumb along her knuckles.

“I shouldn’t have lost my temper at them. They were only trying to help. Just like how you were back there. That’s something I love about you. But at the same time... it frightens me. Deeply. What would I do if you were to suddenly disappear?” he whispered to her, his voice trembling with fear from his own words.

As he held back another set of tears, he heard a faint whisper, “...not going anywhere,” she said. She moved her hand to hold his weakly, her eyes opened a crack to see his crying face.

“Lumi? Oh, I’m so sorry. I- I failed to protect you, and I should’ve pulled the arrows out sooner and gone to help and-“

She cut him off with a bandaged finger to his lips. “Venti, love, don’t blame yourself,” she assured, offering a small smile before attempting to sit up.

She winced from the movement, Venti feeling powerless in only holding onto her hand and the small of her back. He leaned in closer to take her in a gentle embrace, his tears now staining her white infirmary shirt. His free hand moved from her back to her hair, gripping it protectively.

“Lumine, promise me something,” he choked, ignoring her previous remark.

She combed her own hand through his hair, saying nothing.

“Promise me, please don’t disappear,” he whispered.

She didn’t say anything for a long time, and Venti began to wonder if she had fallen back asleep.

“Venti, look at me,” she said, pulling away. “Do you see me?”

He nodded, “Every beautiful bit.”

She smiled sheepishly, trying not to get sidetracked. “Yes, and thus, my promise is already fulfilled, my love,” she said.

“Huh?”

“Even if I am gone, you will always remember me. I will not be forgotten, and that’s enough for me.”

“But it isn’t for me! You need to live, Lumine!”

“Of course I will, I wouldn’t want to live a day apart from you. But someday, we will be forced apart. It will happen, Venti. But I promise, that somewhere among the stars, we will meet again,”

“Lumine...”

“People are separated, but never for forever, my dear,” she placed her forehead against his, looking into his eyes earnestly. “Do not worry, my archon,” she half joked, letting out a small chuckle.

He sighed, smiling from the influence of her laughter. “Your words indeed ring true, my disciple,” he replied, nuzzling against her soft cheek. “But I will protect you from harm’s way, so that the stars may claim you another day.”

[idkcantthinkofaname]

It takes time/ 16

 Pairing: BTS x Reader

Gene: angst, smut(certain chapters), Dark themes (in certain parts)

Warning: blood, death of minor characters

Summary: after finally getting the house y/n always wanted, she find a hybrid hiding in an old shed. Unlike most people who find strays, y/n doesn’t turn him into h.c mainly because there was a lot of shady things that happened with the hybrid control in the area.

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A whole week had passed with no sign of Jungkook, the boys didn’t seem worried and I tried really hard not to...but something wasn’t sitting right. Most of the time when I would ask about him, they would distract me with mentioning what happened between Hobi and I, Which I would get red in the face. The foxes kept saying it was unfair and would cling onto me for most of the day. Hobi would just glow and I swear he would brag to the boys. Because at least one or more would show up and cuddle me, growling any time that Hobi would get near.  

I clocked out of work and headed to my truck. Today had been an early day, and I was going to use this time to drive around to see if maybe I could come across Jungkook. I know the others told me not to worry about him. I had to do something, seeing how him leaving was partly my fault. So, I headed towards my truck.  

I had been driving around downtown for about thirty minutes now. This was part of the town that I unfortunately had to drive through but never liked too. It always gave me the creeps. I slowly drove down the streets looking both ways to see if I saw any movements. Most that I did end up seeing was stray cats and dogs... no hybrids. I sighed, maybe I should call it a night. If I stayed out any longer the boys would start to think something is up. I turned towards the main road when I noticed a H.C. Truck that was parked on the corner of a road a block over. I barely caught a glimpse of it, I pulled over and parked my truck, I needed to get closer and my truck would be too easy to spot. I could hear voices coming from the block with the truck.

 “You are a wild one, aren't you?”  

“Thought you gave us the slip a couple days ago?”

“should had stayed home with your pack and little who...”

A growl echoed off the buildings and what sounded like jerking of chains. Other men snickered “let's get him loaded up in the truck. He won't be much threat once the injection take full effect.”

I could hear the footsteps of the men walking away from where I hide at a corner of a building. ‘Did they have him?’ I stepped out before thinking through.  

   “Jungkook?” I stood there shocked... I found Jungkook...and he was half beaten and still fighting against the H.C. members that were dragging him towards their truck. Upon me saying his name he looked towards me, eyes going round in shock for a moment then narrowed as he continued to thrash against the other men. From where I stood, I could see him bleeding from his head. They had a chain collar around his neck and two on his ankles. I started to lean out to run towards him, but what could I do? Even if I called the others boys, they wouldn’t make it in time... I wanted to help but I'm useless... But I got to try. I started running towards them.

 “DONT!” yelled Jungkook.

 I stopped in my tracks, tears peaking the edge of my eyes.

 “Don't you fucking move” One of the guys hold a chain wrapped around Jungkook neck had turned towards me with a gun. “Little lady, I would suggest that you just turn around and go on home.” 

Jungkook jerked “Leave!” he shouted again. 

They were loading him up in the back. I had to do something, but the guy still held the gun towards me. “Don't make me pulled this trigger y/n. You are just caught in the middle of something. Wouldn’t want an innocent one like you get hurt.”  

I was breathing heavy, ‘caught in the middle?’

 “Now go on and get back home.” His radio went off, ‘another one was sighted just south...’ he covered his radio. 

“Alright boys, you got this one?”

 “yes sir” he lowered his gun and walked to get into one of the cars behind the truck. They turned and headed off.  I took off back towards my own truck...there was one thing I could do...  

   I jumped into the truck and started her up. I buckled myself in and gripped the steering wheel as I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe...this was going to hurt.

   As their H.C. truck started to move forward the intersection. I threw the truck in drive and floored it. My truck launched forward, jerking my head back slightly, but the grip I had on my steering wheel didn’t allow me to go all the way back against the seat. I hope I timing this right. I flew fast towards their truck. I could see it getting closer and closer. No backing out now.

    I slammed hard into the cab of their truck. Glass shattered all around me, sounds of metal hitting metal and screeching tires echoed all around. I felt myself jerk against the belt and whipped back towards the seat. My head bounced off the streeling wheel before I covered it with my hands. I kept my eyes closed as I felt the truck whipped around.  

   Ringing in my ear was loud as I slowly opened my eyes. I blinked several times to get my vision to clear up. The hood of my truck was covering where my windshield had been before. I slowly lowered my arms from my head, pain shot through every time I moved. I slowly looked down at my seatbelt to unhook it, and with a few tries I managed to get it undone. I tried to open up my door but it wouldn't budge. I looked around and noticed that the window on the passenger side was open. I moved towards the window to crawl out. I could feel my body screaming at me in pain, But I had to get to Jungkook.  

   I placed my feet on the ground and stumbled slightly, leaning on the truck to get my bearings. Their truck was turned over on Its side. I slowly started to stumble my way over to the truck, I managed to get towards the back and tried to open that door. Gripping the handle and jerking. ‘damn it was still locked.’ they really made sure whoever they put in there was not getting out of there.

   I leaned back against it for a second. One of the people in the front have to had a key. I slowly moved towards the front of the truck. I managed to climb up on to the top of it and looked through the broken glass. There hung one of the men that loaded Jungkook up. He had so much blood coming from him, he was just hanging there against the seatbelt...I looked down towards the one on the side that I hit and almost lost it. He was pretty much a part of the truck now... I didn’t know where he began and the truck ended. I took a deep breath and try to calm my nerves... ‘I had just killed someone...two someone's...’

I tried to steady myself as I looked back down to try, there hanging on the drivers' belt was a set of keys... I leaned down to see if I could see the keys in the ignition. With some difficulty I manage to get a look at the keys, there was only one key on that hook so, the key had to be on the ring on his belt. ‘Great.’

I could feel my stomach turn as I moved my hand down to reach for the keys, they were cross the man that was just hanging there. I closed my eyes ‘I can't do this; they would have hurt Jungkook.’ with that in mind I used my other hand to steady myself as I tried to unclip the keys from his belt loop. I struggled with it, I huffed and got my knees in position so I could support myself better

The man’s hand gripped mine and pulled. I placed my other hand on the dash to keep myself from falling into the cab. I stared wide eyed at the man. He was smirking, even with all the blood running down his face, he was fucking smirking. “I think we underestimated you.” He pulled tighter and His other hand reached for something on his side.  

My eyes opened wide as I see a gun comes out of its holder. ‘fuck, why didn’t I notice that.’  

As he went to go aim it at me, I launched to the side and slamming my shoulder into his shoulders and I gripped the gun with my hands. “you little bitch, do you know you are protecting killers?”  

I jerked forwards and managed to get the gun from his hands. “stupid bitch...” he stopped talking as I pointed the gun towards him. “Give me the keys.” I held out my hand

He eyed me for a moment, “You don’t have the guts.”

“I just drove my truck straight into yours. Tell me again I don’t have the guts to pull the trigger.” I stared at him. Though my heart was hammering in my chest and I was scared shitless at this moment, I was trying so hard to seem like I wasn’t affected by this heavy gun in my hand threatening to take a life. I didn’t want to...please don’t make me do this.

He seems to stare and slowly lower his hand to get the keys. I watched his every movement. I heard the click of the seat belt just as he fell on top of where his partner was. I jumped He was moving to get up the side. I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger. The guy screamed and dropped. “You shot me!”  

“hand me the keys!”

“okay, okay here.” He quickly unhooked the keys and handed them up to me. I snatched them so fast and jumped off the truck to run towards the back of the truck.  

‘please be okay’  

As I gripped the door handle and opened the door my eyes grew wide.

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Mr. Steeler sat at his desk working on some paperwork, He was not in a good mood. His office door swung open. “Don't you know how to knock?”

He didn’t look up from his paperwork. “I think I know how to get that pack you have been looking for.”

Mr. Steeler looked up and smiled “why hello there officer Charlie.”

Charlie sat down in the chair in front of the desk. “And how are we going to get this pack?”

Charlie smiled “Well you know how you mention we might need to kidnap the girl?”

Mr. Steeler nodded. “I think we should, I think they all care about her enough that they will do anything for her. Especially after what she managed to do to my guys to save that wolf.”

 Charlie smirked

“and how do you think we should go about doing this officer?” Mr. Steeler wasn’t dumb, He knew that Charlie wasn’t really doing this to help him, He had been obsessed at getting y/n back.

“The only real time she doesn’t have them things near her is when she goes and comes from work. So I think that we need to do a ‘traffic stop’ and get her there. She wouldn’t think twice to pulling over for a police officer.”

Mr. Steeler smiled big “I think that is a great Idea, but what is it that you want?”

Charlie smiled. “I just want her back, She was always mine.”  

Steelers nodded. He would agree to this for now, but he had plans for her as well, to get the boys to work with him without a fight. “I agree. But how I handle her before we have them you can not interfere with it.”  

“Agreed, I am only here to help you sir”

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next

Note: ATEEZ is coming soon

Tag List

@beach-bitch-bitch-beach​ @ghostkat23 @jiminslye @4evahevah @vantaescupid @calling-dips-on-j-hope @jennyjq @purplelady85 @sana-b @deeepvibes @purelyecstacy @peachyjk97 @sinceritythatcouldntbedelivered @j3ngkoo @unicornbabylover @yourlipssoirresistible @shileh @sometingreallycool  @beeeb05 @fanoffandomss @ambersaesthetics @ ego-allie-bap

If I missed anyone I’m sorry!

[pizzarollsareokayiguess]

Close Enough? (Kuvira x Reader)

This is a Kuvira imagine, reader and Kuvira are not established. K? Also, this will be sad :D questionable ending. if you want more, ask and you shall receive <3

TW: blood, spoilers for LOK Season 4  WC: 2620

Kuvira’s reign across the Earth kingdom had started to slow as she was met with resistance from Zaofu and the Avatar. Dealing with them had been easy, beating Korra had been easier, and now she was on her way to Republic City, to rightfully claim the district as official property of the Earth Kingdom. 

Kuvira felt powerful having so many people support her, especially when it came to her. Y/n had been there at the beginning, supporting Kuvira and boosting her esteem so much so, Kuvira’s own motivation took the step forward to claim the Earth Kingdom. Locked eyes, lingering touches, shivering shoulders made up the tension between the two; with the passion of war, it made it all that more bitter sweet. So why did Kuvira feel this way? She knew that y/n was loyal, perhaps the most loyal of them all, and yet the little voice in her head was screaming that something, somewhere, someone was going to betray her. Zhu Li was kind of a given but y/n? Trusting, beautiful, y/n? 

Kuvira’s relationship with Baatar, in her eyes, was political: losing him would be surprising, considering how strong his feelings were against his own mother. Could he be persuaded? Hopefully not, but yet here we are.

Kuvira’s hands were formed into fists as she listened to his pleading. Leave this? Now? We are so close, why would I give up now? Why would I when the last piece of the puzzle is in my hands?

Aiming the spirit weapon towards his location was easy. Pulling the trigger was even easier. But the voice in her head was now a full roar, claiming that no one was loyal, no one was on her side. So as the war machine rebounded from the shot it took, Kuvira straightened her shoulders and looked to her left. Sitting in one of the command chairs, was y/n. Back straight, hair gleaming, Kuvira wanted to swallow her whole, wanted to take her existence and keep it to herself. Y/n might have been lying this entire time, and Kuvira didn’t want to lose her to the avatar. That is one thing she couldn’t stand for, losing this war was not an option and Kuvira would do anything to reach her goal.

“Y/n.”

Snapping her head towards Kuvira, she stood and walked over, placing herself to the left of the platform. Looking her in the eyes, Kuvira stood even taller and her plan was falling into place. This will be easy.

“Come with me for a moment.”

Kuvira commanded the remaining soldiers to stay in their positions and alert her if there are any changes. Knowing the efficiency of the spirit weapon, she doubted that the avatar would have survived the latest shot.

Stepping off of the platform, Kuvira and y/n walked down into the belly of the weapon, where the roar of the machine made the thundering in her heart a little lighter. They came to a stopping point and y/n’s shoulders relaxed. It was just the two of them, perhaps this was a pre-game to victory? Kuvira was faced away from y/n and she could see where the muscle tensed in the uniform that Kuvira wore. Where the metal framed her shoulders and where it flared at her waist and constricted at her knees. She wondered how long it would take her to map every freckle that Kuvira had. Not knowing how many, she wondered if she would have the opportunity to ever count. Is this going to be it? She snapped her eyes back up when Kuvira turned around, crowding her space.

“It’s happening. The end is near and victory will be ours,” Kuvira murmured.

Their eyes were locked and their breaths were shared. How y/n craved to get closer.

“You’ve done wonderfully, I can’t imagine any other trying to accomplish what you have,” y/n whispered. 

Kuvira smirked, “Oh? Tell me, y/n, what have I accomplished?”

Y/n shivered, hearing her name come from her lips was a taste of heaven that she wanted every drop of. She wanted more, she craved more, so she easily answered, if only to savor every drop.

“Conquering the city-states, making the lords bow to you, creating a super weapon that is extremely effective, and should I mention the fact that you won against Korra?”

Toe to toe, their noses almost touched, their breaths were clouding each other and y/n jumped at the feeling of gloved hands fiddling with her own. Oh. Oh Oh-

“I could stand to hear more, if you’ll humor me,” Kuvira whispered.

Y/n took the jump and linked her left hand around Kuvira’s, and she looked her straight in the eyes. She could smell the metal and lavender that left Kuvira and y/n thought she would erupt. 

“Taking apart Zaofu to create something for yourself in a direct response to Su, you are incredibly powerful and what I wouldn’t do-”

Kuvira brought her face to y/n and latched herself to her lips. Her right hand clutched the back of her neck and she squeezed, playing with the hairs that rested there. Her left hand traveled from y/n’s hands to her lower back, pulling y/n forward. 

Y/n felt conquered and completed and finished, any word you could think of, her brain had fried with the machine and her insides turned to jelly. Being placed in Kuvira’s arms and kissing her was something that Y/n yearned for. Her center throbbed and she looped her arms around Kuvira’s neck. She wanted all that Kuvira could give her. Even if Kuvira left her now to take out an entire city, Y/n could live with that, her spark of life had turned into an inferno and had burned her inside out. She wanted to share that fire with Kuvira and as if the devil had knocked on her door, Kuvira licked her bottom lip and Y/n was so easy. She would let Kuvira do whatever she pleased, even right here on the machinery floor. She was entranced by the whole essence of Kuvira. She whimpered when her lip was bitten and she sighed when Kuvira seemed to ravage her being. Closer- She needed to be closer-

Pain.

Wha-

What is that?

Heat radiated from her side, what is-

Y/n’s eyes snapped open and she pulled herself from Kuvira. Kuvira had a grimace on her face, her eyebrows drawn together and lips tightened into a line.

Y/n’s breath stuttered and she looked down, red was encompassing her right side. She had been- Kuvira?- Why would she? Kuvira stabbed her? What?

Kuvira metal bended the weapon back into her sleeve and caught Y/n as she started to get dizzy. She lowered her to the grated ground as Y/n clutched her jacket, hissing in pain. Lips red, cheeks flushed, your eyes are so pretty like this..  Kuvira held y/n’s head in her lap as blood dripped from her wound. Pity, how distraught you look. The voice claimed victory and screamed in her head. See? How easy? The avatar will never touch her and the city will be yours. Just flatten the republic and you’re as good as gold.

But it wasn’t easy. Kuvira’s eyes watered but never flushed.

“I had to, for you, for me. I have to finish this now, I hope you understand.”

Kuvira placed her head gently on the ground, taking advantage of y/n’s stunned silence. Wiping her eyes, she left y/n there and composed herself to rejoin the bridge. Scaring the officers on deck, she ordered them to continue, they had a city to recapture.

Then a hummingbird got too close to the sun.

Her chance at freedom was disabled.

And the avatar, as always, brought balance to the world.

…

Her whole body hurt.

 It would start as a dull throb and then crescendo into a sharp point that radiated from her right side. Y/n was stunned, when she said that she would let Kuvira take over the world, she didn’t really expect to be a martyr. But did she really believe in Kuvira still? The blood that was staining her uniform said no, but the stuttering of her heart and the tears on her face said otherwise. She was gonna die in the center of destruction, how fitting. At least it was warm. . . She closed her eyes to the rhythm of a stepping behemoth and took a breath, knowing her fate was just the same as Baatar. They were both foolish, loving someone who couldn’t feel anything and yet thinking, I’m different. I can change her, she will love me, right?

Look how that turned out.

A shrill screech interrupted y/n’s pity party and she opened her eyes to see Su and Lin Beifong. Their determined eyes meeting hers. At that moment, she was made priority number two; number one being the destruction of the spirit weapon. Once the Beifong sisters had wreaked havoc with their metal bending, Lin dropped down to y/n. Gently placing her arms around her shoulders and her knees, Lin rejoined Su. The trio was then tossed around the metal tavern surrounding them before they tethered themselves to the wall. When the spirit weapon finally descended and crashed to the ground, y/n had passed out from blood loss. Stepping out from the carnage, the sisters stopped the bleeding enough that it wouldn’t cause a mortal end. Once they were satisfied with her steadying heartbeat they placed her with the other wounded. Then, they turned to finish the war. 

. . .

Y/n had heard that Kuvira surrendered after she witnessed the power of the one and only avatar. To be honest, y/n was shaken to her core after finding out that Korra created another spirit portal. The avatar was so powerful- she created a rip in space and caused two different worlds to mesh together in a brand new location? Holy Avatar did y/n regret being on the wrong side. 

Repercussions were being made of course. Baatar Jr was to spend life in house arrest for his involvement in the spirit weapon. After being seen by water benders, y/n’s trial was next, and she entered the courtroom in a wheel-chair. Although the wound didn’t sever any major organs, it was a major stress to the body and her back muscles were cut clean through so major movements weren’t recommended. That wasn’t the worst of it.

The hurt that clouded her heart had leaked to her eyes and her brain and she felt numb. Her brain kept going in a loop, kuvira’s eyes, blood, floor, kuvira’s eyes, blood, floor,- y/n was stuck in a mental carousel that try as she might she couldn’t get off of. She could sense the person behind her who was pushing the chair and when she looked up, she could see the council in all their respective colors and robes. She stopped moving and two officers stepped up behind her. But she didn’t try to escape. What was the point? She would take the punishment and move on. What about kuvira, don’t you wanna know why? Did it matter? Did the heat spread to her too? Move on. move on. move on?

The shuffling of papers interrupted the parade of self-pity that y/n seemed to be the mayor of and she dragged her eyes away from her fiddling hands to look up. Korra was there too. Should y/n bow? Korra saved everyone’s lives and without her-

“-without knowing the direct involvement of the individual before us how can we decide her fate?”

“She didn’t help with the weapon? What about the seizing of the city states? Anything?”

“Baatars testimony proves negative on the first but other witnesses say that she is seen on several occasions with Kuvira herself.”

y/n flinched. Pain pain pain 

“Well, Beifong, your jurisdiction houses the inmates, what say you?” The woman in question sighed and y/n wished she could sigh too without being condescending. Jail or home? Not that hard of a question.

“Community service. Either with the water benders or the rehabilitation of the city. I don’t want this one near my jail.”

. . .What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is she not good enough for jail? For Beifong’s jail? Rude.

“Then it’s settled. Y/n L/n, you are hereby sentenced to 25 years of community service, provided by the council before you and supervised by the United Republic of Nations. Dismissed.”

Y/n nodded and bowed her head to show respect to the leaders that handed her fate to her. Much better than house arrest. 

. . .

Y/n heard later that Kuvira was given a second chance, because Korra saw something in her that she saw in herself. Kuvira was sent to Zaofu to live out her house arrest with her adoptive family. Baatar is there too? Is she allowed to ask? Did he give her a second chance? Would y/n? Y/n was stationed near the infrastructure creation center in the city. She was there to help rebuild. Lin was her only visitor. Y/n’s family was disgraced that she chose the wrong side and she didn’t have any friends besides Kuvira, who happened to be a couple flying bison away. Lin would ask her how her wound was doing and Y/n would tell her. Then Lin would end the visit by insulting y/n’s bending and then she’d leave. It was nice. Y/n had a feeling that Lin felt sorry for her, did she know that y/n was betrayed by the one she thought she loved? Did Lin know that the inferno that raged within her dwindled to a flicker of heat? Sometimes it seemed that way when the silence got too loud but then Lin would go back to insulting her. She needed that routine. She probably would have been lost without it. 

Y/n was back to moving again and on a nice, sunny day in republic city; she was just about to finish the base to an apartment complex with the other volunteers (If you want to call them that, y/n faintly recognized some of the earth benders from Kuvira’s forces). When Korra had pulled up near the site on her polar bear dog. Jumping off of the animal, Korra waited until the supervisor started talking to her. After several beats, the supervisor nodded and shouted across the field, summoning y/n towards him.

Meeting them on the edge, y/n respectfully greeted them both before questioning the avatar’s presence. 

She sighed, “Many of the soldiers lived in Zaofu before the war, you were one of them. The metal domes are in grave need of assistance and since you are tasked with community service, it seems fitting that you return there.” “Is that all? I thought this was supposed to be a punishment? Wouldn’t going back home be a little too comfortable for me?” Not if Kuvira’s there, laughing with her eyes closed, hair frizzy from the day, freckles winking in the sunshine.

“Su requested it. Said, ‘that your greatest potential was misplaced with love that had nowhere to go’” Korra sighed.

Y/n felt like she got slapped in the face by the avatar. That would’ve been better. Of course Su knew y/n, she practically raised the child. Su saw the wandering eyes and the yearning sighs, she wasn’t stupid. 

And yet, here she was, extending a hand of forgiveness, a hand withered by betrayal, a feeling that y/n knew quite well.

Should she take it?

[crossroadsfossil]

Sunburns

Summary:

Dabi used to have a soulmark on his wrist. He didn’t have one anymore. It had burned off sometime during his teenage years and he hadn’t thought of it since. No longer having a mark didn’t mean he lost his soulmate, however. He still felt them. He was one of those pairs that shared pain and shared pleasure.

The two of them shared both often enough that Dabi had a pretty good idea what sort of man his other half was. Reckless and selfish and covered in as many hurts as Dabi was.

Dabi prayed to gods he didn’t believe in that they would never, ever meet in this lifetime or the next.

A03 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31346459

Prompt: Soulmates

Tags: Soulmate au, Soulmates are different for everyone but dabi has soulmate mark and soulmate pain-sharing, fun right?, oblivious dabi, not so oblivious hawks

---------------------------------------------

Dabi knows he has a soulmate.

Some people are born with marks. He was not, and it was something his mother told him was a good thing.

He didn’t remember when he got his mark- he just remembers it was sometime before his hair had faded fully to white. It was a small mark, on the inside of his left wrist.

The mark was gone now, having burnt away with the rest of his skin, but it used to be a small, black diamond. Small enough that you could mistake it for a mole or a freckle. It’s probably for the best that it was small. His father would have burnt if off in the hopes that he would forget it.

He rubbed a thumb over where the mark used to be, catching on one of the staples there and sending a familiar zing of pain up his arm.

That was another thing.

He knew he had a soulmate; he knew they could feel his pain. He’d felt theirs often enough growing up.

Hunger pains. Pricking needles in his toes and fingers, not unlike when Fuyumi lost control of her quirk and had almost frozen his fingers. There were times when parts of him ached- throbbing bruises that weren’t his own and backaches. He hated the backaches the most. They weren’t severe, but they felt much like the growing pains he’d had as a teenager, or those long months after the incident on the mountain when he was growing the worst of his muscles back. No matter how good his back-alley doctor was, she couldn’t do much to ease those deep aches.

A shadow crossed overhead, blocking out the light pollution and the dim glow from a nearby building. He glanced up, following the form as the figure banked and came toward him, wings pushing backwards to slow his descent before landing with that strange little hop of his.

“Hey, firebug.” Hawks greeted, wings held awkwardly as the hero shrugged off a backpack.

“What do you want?” Dabi asked, not getting up from his seat. Parts of him were overheating, a combination of the low-fever he had been fighting the entire week combined with the overuse of his quirk from a fight earlier that day.

“To see my favorite asshole.” Hawks said, legs tucking under him as he sat down in front of Dabi, pulling things out of his bag. It took a moment for Dabi to focus on what, exactly, Hawks had been pulling out, but once he had, he realized it was medical supplies and what looked like food. Hawks gestured for Dabi to hold out his arms.

Dabi flipped him off.

“Seriously? I can smell you from here.”

“How the fuck did you get here so fast?”

“The doctor called. The not-league one. Said you missed an appointment. Grumbled something I won’t repeat.”

That caused Dabi’s brows to rise. “What, afraid to repeat filthy words in case your media presence catches it?”

Hawks barked out a laugh, tugging his own gloves off and gesturing for Dabi’s arms again. He relented, shrugging out of his coat and giving Hawks one of his arms. The skin was already pulling back from the seams on his hand. Hawks gently pressed against the skin with his fingertips, gauging the heat that was still trapped within. It wasn’t the first time Hawks had done this- at this point, most of the league has helped Dabi at one point or another. Some, like Spinner and Hawks, because the smell bothered them. Others, like Toga, because she was forever fascinated by the way his seams would bleed. Twice and Shigaraki and oddly enough, Compress, were those who actually seemed sincerely concerned about him, although all three expressed such in wildly different fashions.

“No. I won’t repeat it because I have no idea how to make those sounds with my mouth. I’m a bird, not a cat.” Hawks said before his focus was completely on Dabi’s arms. Dabi let the hero work. It was actually fascinating to watch the switch between the celebrity mask and the hero mask. The true hero mask. The one that settled a little more heavily on his face, that seemed to fit just a smidge better than any other fake expression he wore.

Dabi’s stomach grumbled about halfway into letting Hawks tend to him. Not a breath later one of his feathers was hovering in front of him, carrying a manju on top of it. Dabi’s nose wrinkled.

“Do I want to know where that feather’s been?” Dabi asked, although he still took the manju from them. He bit into it, almost groaning in delight. This was from the store by Nakano station.

“It’s a short list. My back, the shower, my bed. It’s one of my auxiliaries. It doesn’t see much action.” Hawks said as he finished the arm. Dabi didn’t move, more amused to watch Hawks shuffle like a crab around to his other side instead of getting to his feet like a normal person.

By the time Dabi finished all the food in the bag and started working on the bottles of water, Hawks had moved to Dabi’s back, pushing Dabi’s shirt up in order to work on his shoulders. He tutted over them- grumbling about how if Dabi kept this up, the scarring was going to extend again. Dabi tuned him out, staring at the city skyline until more small feathers floated towards him, carrying a familiar pull bottle.

He eyed the pills warily, no matter how tempting it was to down a handful. The pain was starting to ramp up a notch, a residual burn that was quite familiar to him by now. It was also deep enough that there would be inflammation in the rest of his body by morning. It would settle in his joints and make walking and moving painful while his body attempted to heal from the overexertion, and that was before whatever side effects this fever decided to throw at him. He could feel the headache coming on, which was odd as he normally didn’t get headaches when sick.

The feathers shook the pill bottle insistently. He didn’t doubt that they were legit. Hawks probably got him good painkillers, unlike some of the dealers who like to swap out every other pill for a lookalike or grind them up and cut them with other things.

“You should take these,” Hawks said, voice tense. Dabi didn’t reach for the pills, just sipped at the water until it was gone. Another water bottle was offered and he took it.

“I’d rather not.”

“Yeah, well. If I can smell you that means you’re hurting so just take the pills. I can always call your doctor back and let her know.”

Dabi weighed the options. He could take the pain meds and be pain-free and a little out of it for twelve hours or he could piss off his doctor and annoy Hawks all at once. The latter was incredibly tempting, up until Hawks dug a knuckle into his ribcage.

“Fine- fine. See? I’m taking them.” Dabi said, snagging the bottle from the feathers, ignoring the sigh of relief from Hawks. As soon as the hero leaned forward to grab something, he elbowed the hero in the face.

“Fucking hell Dabi-” Hawks hissed, jerking back and gingerly touching his nose. Dabi hadn’t broken it. Hadn’t even bloodied it, the baby. Before he could react, one of the feathers chucked a water bottle at his face. His nose ached, and he was bleeding, although when he reached up to check it seemed to be coming from one of his seams and not his nose, no matter how much his nose was aching. Just what he needed. More pain.

“You’re such a dick.” Hawks grumbled, getting to his feet. Despite his grumbling, he still offered a hand to Dabi.

“Right back at you.” Dabi replied, tentatively feeling his face. None of the staples had popped. Just bleeding. He took Hawks’ hand, letting the hero pull him to his feet while a feather scooped up his coat and offered it to him like one of those gentlemen in the movies Toga’ watched. He shot Hawks a warning look, which the hero ignored.

He watched as Hawks gathered up everything, shoving the trash in one of the store bags and the rest of it in the backpack, which was then held out to him.

Shit, Dabi wasn’t going to say no to free medical supplies.

“Alright, well. I’ll leave you be. Meeting still on Thursday?” Hawks asked, shooting Dabi a quizzical look. “Dabi?”

Dabi wasn’t listening. Not really. He was too busy being frozen in place, eyes locked on Hawks’ bare wrist, at the small diamond that almost looked like a freckle. Hawks followed his gaze down.

“Fuck.” The hero hissed, dropping the backpack.

“HAWKS.” Dabi shouted, chasing after the hero. How Hawks was able to move so fast was beyond him, considering how much pain Dabi was in as he tried to get his muscles to stretch enough to give chase. Hawks glanced at him over a shoulder before taking a leap off the building, wings catching him.

Dabi watched as Hawks flew off, his nose throbbing with pain as he realized it wasn’t his own.

[skekheck]

Theory: UrVa’s Arrows Were Originally Meant To Incapacitate, Not Kill, skekMal

Maybe this is common consensus, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. On the surface, it seemed like urVa had wanted to put an end to skekMal at the Circle of the Suns and the Hunter escaped before he could finish the job. But then there was this line in episode 10 that always felt odd to me:

urVa: I had a dream that I was one that became two that became one again. I looked through my dark half’s eyes and knew Aughra was right. [...] ...The Hunt must end. 

It’s just “but urVa, weren’t you doing just that a day or so prior?”. But then after rewatching their standoff again it hit me: maybe urVa’s intentions were not to kill skekMal but to incapacitate him.

Let’s look at the scene again

SkekMal was shot a total of three times: the first one through his upper arm, the second around the bottom right of his torso, and the last through his upper leg (possibly thigh?). 

(Sorry couldn’t find a better pic of his leg shot)

Weird places to aim for if urVa had wanted to kill him, right? Wouldn’t he have gone for targets that would more likely result in death, like the throat or through the eye sockets? It’s not like he would miss: urVa’s a master marksman. Instead, all three shots prevented (or at least was an attempt to stop) skekMal without taking his life.

The first shot prevented skekMal from harming Rian. The second was retaliation for ignoring the Archer’s warning. UrVa flat out told him to not approach the Gelfling but you see the Hunter take a step forward anyway, prompting him to release the second arrow. The final one was an attempt to stop skekMal from escaping with Brea. Seeing as how urVa immediately collapsed after firing that arrow, it would have worked. However, he underestimated how committed skekMal was to the Hunt, considering he pushed through the pain to get what he needed done.

Those arm and leg wounds aren’t inherently life-threatening. The arrow in his torso, though, is more concerning. It’s possible it could have had or at least be at risk of damaging his organs. Now, the Skeksis have weird-as-fuck anatomy (that goes without saying) so we have no real way of knowing if it was endangering him or not. But considering the nature of his other two wounds, I don’t think it was a kill shot. A more serious wound, but not deadly if tended to. And that’s probably what urVa intended: he aimed for that spot in the hopes skekMal would stop to take care of his wounds. 

But Weren’t Both skekMal and urVa In Critical Condition?

Oh yeah, they still were and skekMal’s partially to blame for it. It’s not a great idea to move around too much with arrows lodged in you. The arrow heads and shaft could move around and cause more internal damage. SkekMal moving made what would have been minor to moderate wounds way more serious. Not to mention, he never stopped to pull them out and heal himself: he kept those things in. 

And let’s not forget how far of a distance between the Circle of the Suns and the Castle is. There are multiple versions of maps of Thra that have some siginifcant differences, but the main point is those two locations are pretty far from each other. Even if he used Bennu to fly all the way over to the Castle, skekMal would still have to deal with Brea thrashing around on his back. And it looks like he took a detour to grab a cage for her, which he then dragged through the Castle’s corridors. Baiting Rian and his friends just so he can fulfill his Hunt was apparently more important to him than his well-being (which is ironic if you believe skekMal’s philosophy surrounding the Hunt is his own way of self-preservation).

EDIT: Wanted to add that skekMal was in a difficult position in terms of what he wanted. He would know that if he’d pull those arrows out he would have to treat them right away otherwise he’d bleed to death. At the same time, he would also had to keep Brea from escaping. I think he weighed his options and found that he’d had more success just pushing through it and keeping them in then treat them later. SkekMal might had also thought the other Skeksis would be able to treat him if it was serious enough? 

And SkekTek Made It Worse

SkekTek is no doctor. He can cut up and research on animals all he wants, but that doesn’t count as medical knowledge. It’s painfully obvious he has no idea what he’s doing: his diagnosis and treatment of skekMal’s condition is enough proof of that. And speaking of which, skekTek’s diagnosis is full of nonsense:

Skektek: Subject suffers severe exsanguination. Extreme distress to the humus. [...] Imbalance of intrinsic fluids. Manifold ruptures in corporeal morphology. [Checks for a heart beat] Ah. Ah... . Expiration... is... [dramatic pause] inevitable.

Literally he’s saying skekMal has multiple holes in his body and he’s bleeding out. You know, pointing out the obvious. Also, I tried finding out if “humus” related to anything biologically, but all I could find was it’s a term for... soil made of organic matter. I’m not sure what he was trying to refer to, I think he was just misusing it to make himself sound smart.

EDIT: I have been told by a few people that skekTek might be referring the humerus, which is a bone found in the upperarm that’s forms joints at the elbow and shoulder. This would make more sense and would mean skekTek made a proper diagnosis. However, at least to me, it still sounds like he’s saying humus. Another skeksis repeats him and they also say humus, not humerus. Turning on the captions also has it as humus. This could either be a typo or skekTek did mean humerus, but said humus instead. 

And how he actually treats skekMal is atrocious. 

He pulls the arrows out without making any attempts to stop the bleeding, clean the wounds, or apply stitches. He’s letting him bleed out and he should at least know they need blood to live. Do you know what happens when someone loses too much blood? Among other side effects, organ failure and falling into a coma. SkekTek did eventually made an effort to heal skekMal by giving him essence, but it was too little too late. SkekMal’s condition was so far gone at that point he really needed Aughra’s essence to survive.

UrVa’s Intentions

And now we’re going right back to urVa. While thinking over on urVa’s actions, I started wondering if he anticipated skekMal wouldn’t stay put and that the Hunter would do his own self in by moving around with the arrows lodged in him. I mean, urVa is a mystic, an indirect kill would make sense. But giving it more thought, I don’t think that’s the case. A lot of his actions during the series suggests otherwise. 

UrVa was very contemplative, even saddened, about having to end the Hunt for skekMal. He is not like his other half: he respected and appreciated all life on Thra. He also sees the cycle of life as well as the wilderness as something untamable. This is implied while he was talking with Aughra in episode 4:

urVa: We do not get to decide when our part in the song is finished.

While urVa is one of the more proactive Mystics, he still is... a Mystic. He doesn’t believe he should manipulate or control what goes on around him and let things be. The Bestiary book points to the fact that while urVa did keep tabs on skekMal, he never interfered with his hunts. So it was a big deal when Aughra quested him with the task of stopping skekMal. 

Also I’d like to point out urVa and Aughra’s final conversation because it’s also important for this discussion:

urVa; And where does my path lead? Aughra: Into the sands to face the Hunter. urVa: [sighing and looks away from Aughra for a moment] I cannot defeat my dark half. Aughra: You will find a way. But not without sacrifice.  urVa: And if I fail? Aughra: The heroes of Thra will be lost. urVa: Mm... [pauses and takes a deep breath] I will end the hunt. Aughra: Good. Get a move on. You Mystics are not known for your swift speed. We have much to do. [...] urVa: [pauses and looks at Aughra] Will we meet again, Aughra? Aughra: [stops walking, saddened] Hm... [faces him] Some things... even Aughra cannot see, old friend.  [urVa pauses and then groans, walks away from Aughra as they both parted ways for the final time]

He shows a lot of hesitance in completing this task. I’m sure he knew what Aughra was implying: that he may have to take skekMal’s life away but he still went and asked if they would meet each other again anyway. I think he was hoping for a positive answer, that it wouldn’t have to come to that, and seemed disheartened by her answer. But he still tried. He tried to stop skekMal in a way that, while not exactly peaceful, was not meant to be life-threatening. UrVa even pleads for him to stop... twice! The first time as skekMal was making his get-away and the second time while urVa helplessly watched him go after Rian again through the Hunter’s eyes. 

These two only had one scene together so we don’t really know the extent of their relationship. But if there’s one thing that’s clear was the conflict between them. I mean, during their whole duel, the characters were purposely placed on opposite sides of the room while making sure to show that skekGra and urGoh, a pair who were able to find harmony, were always side by side. It’s also in the way they address each other: while urVa does refer to him as his dark half, he also called him by his name. SkekMal, meanwhile, only ever referred to urVa as his title and nothing more. 

But I don’t think urVa had any ill-will towards his Skeksis. He seemed understanding of him and valued his life as much as he valued all living beings on Thra. I think if they both didn’t end up in a near-death situation, he’d try incapacitating skekMal again. However he understood and accepted his situation towards the end: with skekMal on an essence high, incapacitation method was no longer possible. If he allowed it to go on, all of Thra would be at risk. It was a desperate situation, but he knew Aughra was right. She gave up her life for the preservation of the world and urVa knew he had to do the same: for her and for Thra. The Hunt had to end and in order to protect the world he cherished he had to make the ultimate sacrifice. 

[ficforce]

Treat Me Well

Sagamiya Konro x Reader SFW No set timeline New relationship

“You overdid it again, Konro-san…” Y/N pushed the shoji door shut and came to kneel at his side, a fresh flannel for his head and some tea on her tray, “I wish you would be more careful, Benimaru is supposed to be a grown-ass man, let him get his ass kicked occasionally.”

Konro sat up and sent her a small smile, “I don’t mind Waka getting beaten up - It’s just he tends to take out half the blocks when he does…”

“So you were protecting Asakusa from him? Such a brave man!” They fell into a long moment of silence as Y/N carefully removed the medical patches from his tephrosis, she had done it many times before as the GuardHouse’s medical staff. She had been patching the Hikeshi up for as long as she could remember and Konro required daily treatment for his shoulders, “You’re still hot.”

“That’s good to know, here I thought I was looking old.” He saw her raise her hand to give him a playful smack, flinching as he expected her to come down on his wounds - instead, there was a sting to her thigh as she remembered last minute not to hit his shoulder. Konro looked at her with a relieved sigh.

She had changed course seconds before remembering. “I meant your skin, give me a minute.”

The woman got up and left the room, Konro watched after her and picked up his tea, picking up the scent of some sort of medicine mixed in. He also spotted the small cube of sugar she left to help combat the bitter taste that would be left on his tongue. Y/N was so thoughtful when it came to treating others, Konro used to hate being treated for the tephrosis. It was painful and it reminded him how useless he was as a defender now - a samurai who couldn’t fight. At least he had killed the bastard who had said that to him with ease.

Y/N made it bearable though, she changed the patches with ease and distracted him with playful banter, often teasing him or asking his advice, usually something he really had to think about. He never felt weak with her around, she wouldn’t let him dwell on those kinds of things. “I’m back.” “So I see.”

“You’re a real pain, you know that?” She placed the cooling blanket over his shoulders and sat down by his side to wait for it to take effect, “Can I ask your advice?” Y/N started slowly, “Relationship advice?”

He felt an odd churning in his gut when she said that, that wasn’t overly new, he felt it more and more lately, especially when she spoke about other men or was being too friendly with one. “Sure… Though I’m not exactly the best person to ask.”

“I don’t know about that, you and Benimaru have been together a long time, I would have probably have killed him in his sleep several times over.”

“Waka doesn’t sleep, he takes small naps whilst standing,” he watched her hide a laugh and wanted so badly to brush her hair behind her ear, “Besides, that’s more sibling relationship or fed up caretaker and brat master. Have you… have you met someone you like?” Konro thought those words tasted more bitter than the medicine. She was a member of their squad, she didn’t fight fires or infernals but she took care of their injuries and complaints. This didn’t feel like the usual feelings he had for his comrades and he was having trouble separating her from his thoughts more lately.

Y/N fidgeted a little, keeping her hands busy with the edge of her yukata, “I suppose so. You wouldn’t like him.” His eyebrows rose a little and she continued despite his badly held in judgment, “He’s just my type - tall, broad and he’s smart too. Gentle, patient and reliable…”

“Sounds like the worst kind of scum, stay clear.” Konro smiled when she did, if this person was as she was describing then he would be pleased for her… wouldn’t he? “So what advice do you need? All you need to do is walk up to the guy and smile - you’ll knock him off his feet.” He finally caved and reached for that stray hair, his fingers brushing it behind her ear and tried not to linger. Tried not to believe that she might have leaned into the touch. “Y/N, you’re a kind woman, you’re dutiful and if they don’t like you back, me and Waka can have a word.”

“Thank you, Konro-san,”

“I keep telling you, just Konro is fine.” Y/N shrugged at him and moved behind to remove the blanket and carefully feel around the charred skin, the palm of her hand pressed to the middle of his back when he inhaled too sharply, it hurt but that one touch to steady him was enough to make Konro sit straight again. “So, this advice?”

Y/N waited until she had finished with the patches before grabbing fresh bandages and replying, “I can’t get his attention, he’s very dedicated to his work and he has family responsibilities -”

“He’s got, kids?” He held the end of the bandage in place as she started to wrap him, “Please tell me he isn’t married, Y/N.”

“He’s not married and I suppose you could say they’re like his kids… But that’s not the point. He sees me as a friend and I want to be seen as more than that. He makes my heart beat so fast in my chest and it’s hard not to tremble with how much I want him to just pull me in his arms and… ugh!” Y/N had to chase her thoughts away and concentrate on looking after Konro. “You don’t have to listen to me complain.”

The man turned his body so that he could look at Y/N, “I don’t mind. You listen to me plenty.” He didn’t want to give her advice on how to get this guys attention, he wanted to pull her close and feel her tremble for him… When did he even begin to feel this way? Maybe he had grown comfortable knowing she would always be around but now, now, he feared she would be swept away from him. “…Why don’t you tell him how you feel?”

“What if he rejects my feelings? It would never be the same again.” She gathered everything up and told him to get some rest, making sure the cool flannel was on his forehead before heading to the door.

“Y/N,” Konro called out, “He’d be an idiot to reject you.”

She smiled and left him to sleep, coming across Benimaru who took the tray from her, “He’s an idiot and you’re a coward.”

“You’re a brat.” — Konro went about the usual daily routine, he swept the Guardhouse entrance, he did his usual sword practice and got Benimaru and the twins to work. Y/N came to help him with his treatment and he broke up at least two fights in the street. He had seen Y/N speaking with a tall man that morning and he wondered if that was the one she liked, Benimaru had told him later that he had felt as if Konro wanted to kill the guy. He realized he was actually jealous and that made him sit down for the longest time and realize that she wasn’t his to get jealous over…

He was going to tell her tonight when she came to help him. Konro didn’t have anything big planned, he was pretty straightforward once he made up his mind. He was going to pull her against him and kiss her. He was going to tell her that he couldn’t bear the thought of someone else having her and that he had been too stupid to realize it.

“Fire!” The bell started above him in the watchtower and Konro got up and out, looking around for a sign of flames and then confirming that it wasn’t an Infernal.

“I’ll go help, Waka.” Konro waved the other man off, “You go make sure that there’s nothing else going on.” He and a few others ran toward the fire and his eyes widened as he realized he knew that block and who lived in it, “Is everyone cleared out of there?”

“Lieutenant!” Water was already dousing the flames but some of the building had caved in on itself, “There’s someone inside, we’re trying to get to them but it’s unstable right now.” He knew it was her, he just knew that Y/N was inside and he barged past them and into the flaming doorway. The insides of the building were twisted and the heat was intense, “Y/N?!” The man shoved a large beam out of the way, his shoulders ached at the strain and his barely suppressed urge to use his ability to get there faster. “Y/N?!”

Her voice came from a side room, “Konro! I…I can’t get out!” Her arm reached out from the blocked doorway, a partial collapse keeping her trapped. When he got to her she caught his hand and he tried to pat off the fire on her skin. Y/N was a second-generation with a high flame resistance but that was about all. Her clothing was burnt and burning, Konro pulled off his coat and passed it through to her.

“Put it on, you’ll start to burn as you run out of oxygen,” The black, protective plate he wore was resistant to the flames but the bandages around him were already smouldering. Konro began clearing the debris, tiles falling in on him as he shifted joists and held it high enough for Y/N to climb out, “This way, quickly!” Y/N looked down at their joined hands as he pulled her toward the exit, his hands were bleeding and his tephrosis was showing where the bandages and patches had burnt up. She let out a scream as the floor buckled under their feet and the walls came in, Konro pulled her to his chest to protect her from what fell.

She stayed wrapped in his arms until suddenly the flames were gone, seemingly sucked up into the air to vanish. Looking up she was caught in a familiar red gaze, the man looking down at them from the hole in the roof, “You both alive?” Came Benimaru’s bored tone, his expression gave away his concern though and Y/N turned her head to meet Konro’s worried eyes. He was searching every millimetre of her, confirming that she wasn’t hurt beyond a few minor burns and scratches.

“Konro…”

Konro didn’t hesitate, he cupped the back of her head and caught her lips with his, kissing her hard enough that she would know how he really felt. His fear, his relief and hopefully he could convey that she was all he need and ever wanted - he wasn’t ever going to let her go. They parted reluctantly and he had the decency to seem apologetic for being so sudden, “I like you, Y/N.”

“Konro…!” She held him tighter and pushed her face into his neck, grateful to be alive and to have him by her side.

A few days later, as she sat in his lap whilst he read a report, the man seemed to remember what started his realization and asked about the man she had been trying to get his advice on, were her affections so easily forgotten? Benimaru had been sitting in the same room, ignoring their cute couple act for the most part, and he had looked up at Konro with such disdain, “She was talking about you, ya moron!”

“But…” he looked down at her confused, “You said kids, right?” Benimaru threw the report he had down with a frustrated growl and stomped out of the room, complaining about Konro being a stupid son of a bitch, “Oi! Waka! Don’t just throw a tantrum and ditch work! Oi!” The shoji door slammed and he gave a frustrated sigh, “It’s like having a… kid. Yeah, I got it now.”

Y/N leaned up and kissed his jaw, “Thank goodness you have other qualities I like.”

[prince-toffee]

Villains

Part One

Hordak’s heavy steps echoed across the hallways as he marched alongside four rows of his personal guards, his most skilled and deadliest warriors, two rows on his left and two on his right. In their hands they firmly gripped stun-batons and stun-staffs. Hordak himself had no weapon except for his own bare hands, enhanced by his exo-skeleton armour, plating coating his chest, cables coiled around his thin weak arms, like a secondary thick layer of muscles, and metal boots enhancing his speed. The symbol of the red wings of the vampire were painted onto every armour of every soldier of the Horde.

The reason why Hordak had gathered his guard and set off to the Black Garnet Chamber was because of an act of treachery, and betrayal. Shadow Weaver had taken up the sword against him, so to speak. The clone lord had employed the sorceress for her professional and prideful knowledge of magic arts and his own lack of such knowledge. He was far more of a man of science, he knew things about space and machinery no one else on Etheria did. Well maybe one person did, this Entrapta seemed to be more of Hordak’s speed. He did not know much about the Princess of Dryl, but she seemed bright, she was a rare blessing among the people of the planet he was trapped on. She was a scientist, a true scientist, very little of those on Etheria. Her language he could understand. She was the only person that could hold a proper conversation with him, that was something he quite enjoyed, even though they had only spoken once or twice.

She was one of the hostages Shadow Weaver was holding in the chamber room. The other hostages frozen in place by her dark magic included both Force-Captain Scorpia, recently assigned to that division for her professional expertise to help increase efficiency, and Force-Captain Catra to whom the ex-Scorpion-Princess was assigned to as Catra seemed easily distracted, unfocused, and strangely obsessed with her archenemy. Hordak remembered appointing the Magicat the new Force-Captain, it was in their first interaction. He remembered Shadow Weaver dragged her ward into his throne room hopeing to embarrass and berate and insult her, Hordak didn’t care about such pettiness. From what he understood they were one Force-Captain down, as one of Weaver’s wards had deserted the Horde. So he simply appointed the second best fitting candidate, the records and grades claimed that even though Catra was the most absent and late person on the team, when she decided to show up she showed she was skilled in combat, strategy-crafting, leading, and thinking outside the box. She seemed right for the pick.

Hordak always had a sneaking suspicion that there would come a day when Shadow Weaver would try to betray him, but he had hoped that their promise of mutual destruction would have prevented the either from crossing the line. Weaver needed to leech off of other sources to survive, she usually resorted to people in her earlier days before bowing in front of the Horde and Hordak, afterwards she only needed the Garnet. Hordak had given Entrapta the go-ahead to study and use the Garnet in any way she wished as her experiments seemed to increase the overall efficiency of the Horde. Shadow Weaver didn’t like that. She choose to fight back.

Hordak and his soldiers reached the door leading to the Garnet Chamber. The young general reached out with his claw hand, his greyish-blue talon pressed a green button, waiting for the button to instruct the metallic door to slide up. Before the door itself could open up the metal slab burst open and peeled back like a banana, a black and crimson shadow claw grabbed him. It’s own talons tightened around him forcing out a scream from him. And he was yanked inward into the chamber, he fell onto the cold floor, or at least it should have been cold, but it was getting hotter, no doubt due to the electrical magic expelled by the dark sorceress.

He growled. Before he could get up onto his own two feet the darkness latched onto him, flinging him up into the ceiling, forcing him to crash against various wiring and cables that dislodged and fell down with him. He began to breath heavily as pain shot throw his body.

The troops moved forward to engage, but were frozen by Weaver’s magic almost immediately, like the two Force-Captains and Princess on the side, all simply looked on in fear as the Mysticore witch overpowered the Lord of the Horde. Tendrils of magic wrapping around his frame, tightening and crushing both him and his suit. He got a few good hits off on the woman, one punch braking a shadow construct, the second punch making contact with the witch and the impact threw her across the room. He knocked the wind out of her, that slowed her down as she tried to catch her breath. Bent over, eyes down, hands on her knees, she didn’t see another fist flying in her direction. The hit shattered her mask, pieces of the mask, spit and a single red droplet flew into the opposite direction of the punch. Luckily all the teeth were intact. That got her real angry.

The dark woman drew back her arm, a small black sphere appeared a few centimetres above her palm, red veins of electricity crackled around her hand and the sphere grew to the size of a bowling ball in seconds. And from it shot out a beam of black that hit Hordak directly in his chest. The pain and sensation it inflicted apon Hordak was indescribable, cold like the vacuum of space, while simultaneously burning like being in a whirlwind of a wildfire. He was pushed up against a wall and the dark beam kept him in place, the black mass spread across his body like a thick dense clay. The cold and the burning spread with it. His deep screams and yells increased in volume. Pain like a thousand knives stabbing his nerves.

“We had a deal! You stay out of my way and I stay out of yours! Simple! The Garnet is mine! No one else will touch it!” The black and red mass coiled and spiked, Hordak screamed so much he ran out of breath. “Watch! All of you!” Shadow Weaver turned to the guard troopers and the trio. “Watch as your leader and ‘Lord’ is defenceless, the conqueror conquered!” The clone general attempted to struggle against her hold, but it was all for nothing. The witch noticed the movement and had enough of this, she clamped her fist closed, tightening around the sphere, stabbing her fingers into it, and then flicked them out from the sphere. Like manipulating a voodoo doll, the black mass tore Hordak’s armour apart like plastic. “You were told to fear the Hordak, made believe that he was powerful, terrifying, a demon among men! And yet, all a lie! Look at him, your frail, weak, and sick ‘Lord’! This is the liar and fraud under whom you kneeled! Reject, banish this pretender! And pledge your loyalty to me!... or else.” She turned to Hordak for the finale time, and she blasted him out of the room through the wall, outside.

The soldiers were freed, and they quickly kneeled to the Shadow Weaver, very obviously out of fear. Catra, Scorpia, and Entrapta did so as well. And Hordak, several metres outside and below the point from which he was launched. His last moments of consciousness were that of the hole he was pushed through, a crowd gathering around him and a faint chant, “All Hail The Shadow Weaver.” And then the darkness took over.

“And how’d you make it out of The Fright Zone? All the way here? To BrightMoon?”

“That, I entirely do not know. I remember passing in and out of consciousness I... they must’ve dragged me out of my fortress and threw me out into the desert, to let the elements claim me. There one of your scouting groups found me, correct?” The trapped clone looked past the She-Ra at the BrightMoon’s angel Queen. Angella confirmed the latter half of the story, past that she had no idea. The moment the lilac skinned, feather winged, immortal Queen was given the report that some of her woman somehow managed to capture her nemesis and the leader of the Evil Horde, that moment ranked as one of the strangest in her life. She practically leaped off her golden throne and sprinted through the halls to the front of the castle. And true enough, there he was, bleeding and chained.

Hordak was thrown into the castle prison, or so they called it, but where the clone expected cold metal bars, hard floor, greys and other dull colours, and small claustrophobic spaces. Instead he was greeted with bright pinks and purples, soft pillows and blankets and armchair. He was confused. The only aspect of the location that suggested its own true function and purpose was the thin transparent glass-like, curtain, veil-like force field, a pretty rainbow effect coated the structure.

He did not know what to think of the ‘cell’. It was... nice. Even though the Queen acted like it wasn’t. He was pretty sure that the room was some sort of guest room, it looked too nice for a basement, but that was BrightMoon, they probably have storage rooms larger and grander than most rooms in The Fright Zone. “It is a prison!” The angel Queen argued. After the Queen’s long elaborate speech about how Hordak was a monster and the Horde was an evil unparalleled by anything in BrightMoon’s history, and how he should have been ashamed of his actions and that if she was like him she would’ve killed him where he stood, after all that the She-Ra entered.

“It’s just Adora.”

“Very well, She-Ra Adora.”

“Ugh.”

She massaged her templates, her very brief irritation was cut even shorter by a sharp ‘HA’ that escaped from the snickering Glimmer. “The Mighty Evil Lord Hordak, King of Horrors, the Baron of Bedlam, and the Master of Mayhem? Really? I’m kinda disappointed. You were our greatest enemy? Hahaha, can you even do one push-up? Let me guess Weaver uses your arms to pick broccoli out of her teeth? HA!” Hordak’s face remained blank, unphased, and unamused.

None of them noticed his pupils shifted as they were covered by crimson red lens, and they shifted to Adora. Curiously the She-Ra didn’t engage or enjoy the roast, even the stoic Queen and the Head-Sorceress both held cheeky smiles, but not this Adora. Her eyes remained fixed on him.

The difference between Adora and everyone else in that room was the fact that she was from the Horde. Adora had been with the Alliance for almost a year, it was only a few months ago she was still living in The Fright Zone, studying war under the symbol of the Horde. For most of her life she perceived Hordak as their leader, as a strong, righteous hero, a saint who sought to quell chaos in the world and install control, order, and peace. Adora and all the other cadets all their lives looked up to Hordak. To look down on him now didn’t come to her naturally. All her life she wanted to impress him and now she was told to insult him.

“Could you leave us?” Adora’s genuine and semi-serious question shocked everyone in the room. Glimmer was the first to argue, and was the most vocal about it. The Princess of BrightMoon found the request outrageous. Even Angella attempted to oppose her choice, placed a hand on her shoulder, told her Hordak was a manipulator and a conqueror, he could try to trick her. When she realised there was no dissuading the young woman she let off. She ended with telling the young She-Ra to be careful. Angella motioned for Casta and Glimmer to move out of the room.

Glimmer was the last individual to leave, she turned around and she stuck her tongue out, “You better watch yourself toothpick-arms! If you touch a single hair on her hair-!”

“I got this Glim! Thanks!”  Adora interjected, giving her a thumbs up. Glimmer squinted and walked backwards out of the room. And so Adora and Hordak were the only ones left. A tense silence filled the room. Neither really knowing what to say. Hordak didn’t know why he suddenly felt so uncomfortable, perhaps it was the look the girl gave him. She looked... disapproving, or disappointed. “The war could be over soon. At least that’s what all the others think, but if what you say is true, when I think the end of the war is further away than ever... You know, I don’t know if you know, but I was her ward, I think I was her pet, her favourite. It was hard to tell with her twisted version of ‘love’ if you could call it that. She certainly put everyone else down around me.”

“She certainly felt, in her mind, that you were ‘special’ in some way. She said so when I returned to The Fright Zone with you, and you two met for the fist time. Therefore I can definitely see that sort of favouritism forming.”

“...Wait... when ‘you’ first brought me back to The Fright Zone? D- Do you know where I come from?!” That exclamation gave Hordak pause. He wasn’t sure how to approach the subject, he was trained in the art of war, to combat opponents on battlefields of any kind, he could withstand the void of space, and his mind altered to form battle strategies and tactics in milliseconds, of course all of those enhancements have been long lost because of his defect. But this, he was not prepared for. He adjusted his position on the soft fluffy armchair, no matter how he moved he felt his backside sink into it. He awkwardly cleared his voice, that unintentionally brought Adora’s focus back onto him.

“I... well... yes... I” Hordak was not a liar. In fact Hordak himself had no concept of lying, he didn’t know how to, the clone was loyalty personified. It was figuratively and literally beaten into him. So he had to be careful about what he revealed, he may have been truthful, but he wasn’t stupid, arguably. He didn’t want to show all his cards. So he choose to keep his portal secret, same with his origin. So as he replied he choose to leave some key information out, “I was the one who found you, my personal computer picked up an anomaly, a strange, powerful energy surge.” Hordak noticed Adora’s eyes widened, her mouth was gradually opening wider and wider, as she began to lean forward in captivation. “And, uhm, [clears throat] at the time I was not sure what I found, I did not know what you were. But in the middle of a field of quadrant PT5-5-03 in the west region of The Elder Forest, there I found a crying infant and that was you. And so I brought you back with me to The Fright Zone. I had no use for you, and the noises you were making were causing my anxiety levels to rise so I handed you to Shadow Weaver, my Minister of Magicks.”

Adora’s face betrayed the fact that she was disappointed, and the story was quite anti-climatic sooner than her raised volume did. “That’s it?! Not that I wanted you to, but I was expecting you to have stolen me from like a cradle or something. I kinda hoped you’d know where I came from.”

“I do not... I... am sorry?” That was true. He did not. Hordak’s confusion was apparent, he didn’t know how to react to the hero’s theory. And so they stood and sat there for a moment longer, neither saying anything. In that quiet moment Adora realised that the bat lord wasn’t... scary. I mean it was ‘Hordak’, so the name itself was scarier than the actual man, as all her life the name was taught to the cadets as a monstrous horror entity, ‘Hordak’ was a King who sat on top a throne of skulls and he ate hearts and everything died around his step, he had two heads, and he breathed fire. That was ‘Hordak’.

But the man that sat uncomfortably in front of her was no such thing, he wasn’t ‘Hordak’, not ‘The Hordak’ she was told to believe in, all those cadet scary stories they all told each other all kind of seemed non-sensical now, she had to admit. The man she was looking at was thin, slim, in a not healthy way. He looked like a skeleton, like a weak breeze could push him over. He himself looked weak and fragile, sickly even. Now she was getting worried just scanning over him, she thought maybe she should’ve offered him like some mint tea or warm towels or... or something.

“You’re nothing like what we expected.”

Hordak raised his brow ridge, “How do you mean?” He didn’t know why he asked, he shouldn’t have asked.

“I- no offense, but, uh, I thought you’d be a bit scarier, you know ‘a horror of biblical proportions’ something like that?”

“Sorry to disappoint.” He replied awkwardly.

“Yeah, no, no, it’s cool.” She scratched the back of her neck, “Soooo uh... oh did you say you didn’t know ‘what’ I was? I mean I haven’t ever seen your species around, in The Fright Zone or any kingdom I’ve been to while with the Alliance. Do your species n- eh, how do I not make this sound weird, not have babies? Do you guys grow out of cabbages or are delivered by storks, hehehe?” Her attempt at humour flopped as she noticed he didn’t seem to get it.

His eyes darted around the room as if he was thinking of how to articulate something, ”No we... people like me... we are not children, we are in this state all our lives, from gaining consciousness to death.”

“So where do you come from?”

“...That is enough. Leave me.” That was a shame, Adora thought they were getting somewhere, but the cold and the lack of emotion returned. He dropped the eye contact, he stared down at the floor, he turned into a statue, no slight motion betraying the fact he was a real person. Adora tried to start up the conversation again few times, to no avail. Hordak revealed too much already. So Adora left the room.

[hatake-no-sharingan]

Time travel AU (Part 1: The lady with the flowers)

AU Summary: The world is falling apart, and the Sage of the Six Paths sends Naruto back in time to find his parents and collect the thing that will help him and Sasuke save the shinobi. 

Part 1 Summary: Naruto arrives in the Konoha he was born and finds Y/N struggling to keep her plants alive. He's drawn to helping her, and later discovers she’s exactly the person he was looking for.

Characters in part 1: Y/N (as Naruto’s mom/ Minato’s wife), Minato and Naruto

Warnings: None

A/N: Thank you @itsao-mine for requesting this, and I’m so sorry to keep you waiting, I hope the full story is worth it. I’m thinking it’ll be like 2 or 3 parts long. I had to change a bit your request, but I still hope you like it. Remember my ask box is always open! Keep requesting stuff and being kind<3

The lady with the flowers

“Could you try not dying for once?” Y/N pleaded to what could’ve been a jasmine plant, had she actually known how to properly do gardening. She wiped her brow tired, and accidentally smeared a bit of dirt on her forehead.

It was a peaceful autumn afternoon, Konoha hadn’t looked as pretty in a long time. The war had taken a lot from the village, but it had been slowly repairing itself. Now villagers strolled down the streets again chattering about the nice weather, new businesses opened, children ran everywhere, and finally shinobi had gotten a much deserved break.

A sunset colored house stood small in the middle of Konoha, where Y/N fought, on the losing side, to keep her plants alive.

“Maaa, how am I going to take care of a child if I can’t even grow a flower?” She complained to herself as she started clearing  the mess she had made between the dirt, fallen leaves and plant food.

“You should maybe try feeding them less. Yaknow? Overfeeding plants is actually a thing, and it could kill them. And I just saw a nice spot over here where you could try moving them, they’ll get more sunshine at the right times of the day. They’re getting the strongest light for a short amount of time and it’s killing them. It’s better to have them exposed longer but where the heat isn’t as strong. Yaknow?”

Y/N looked up to see a smiling blond boy, scratching the back of his head and examining the front part of her house.

“Right there, you see?” He pointed to a small corner.

“Will that stop them from dying?” Y/N asked excited.

“Yes! I’m not an expert, but I kinda know my way around plants. I’ll help you move them.”

She stood up and as she turned towards the boy, he saw she was heavily pregnant. It was only a matter of days before she gave birth. Her skin was glowing in the same way roses glisten when they’re covered in morning dew.

“Oh you might want to sit down while I move them. Don’t worry.” He said embarrassed at the realization. She needed his help more than he’d initially thought. He was glad he’d bumped into her, though he had to hurry because he was still on time constraint and the world depended on it.

Y/N sat down thankful on the entrance steps while the boy skillfully arranged the plants.

“Well that was the last one, hopefully they’ll live now” he announced

“Thank you. It’s a bit frustrating, I’m used to doing things by myself, and it’s weird that in this state I need more help than I would admit to. Heheh. It was very nice of you to do it.”

“Well, I’m glad I was here, but I have to get going because I’m on an important mission here, lady, and there are some people I need to find.”

“Wait a second, you’re hurt.” Y/N said, noticing for the first time that the boy was bleeding badly from several cuts across his body, his clothes were torn and ripped, revealing multiple bruises and he had a bit of a limp on his left ankle. “Come inside, let me at least disinfect your wounds and put some bandages on you.

“Naaah, It’s fine, I’ve seen worse.” He said trying to act cool, stretching his arms over his head. Which y/n noticed was obviously a painful motion.

“Nonesense, I bet you can spare a few moments. I’m a Kunoichi myself, and I know you’ll be able to complete your mission more effectively with some pain out of your way. Come on, I’ll fix you something to eat too.”

The last part caught the blond kid’s attention, and he hastily agreed. Surely the end of the world could give him a few minutes right? Plus the sage of the six paths had sent him a week before the incident, so he’d have enough time to look for them, and the lady was right, he was good at handling pain, but he’d be way more effective if at least some of it was reduced, giving his body time to heal.

The house’s interior matched the warmth that emanated from the exterior. It was homely, colorful, and cozy, exactly the kind of house he’d always dreamed of growing up in.

Y/N led him to the kitchen, where an amazing smell told him something good was cooking.

“You’re making ramen?! It’s my favorite meal!”

“Well, I’m trying to” she giggled kindly “It’s not as good as Ichiraku’s but my husband likes it.”

He was pleasantly surprised that his favorite food place already existed when he was born, but he didn’t remark on it. Instead he told her how excited he was to try her cooking.

“Sit here. Let me just get the first aid kit and I’ll be back in a few seconds.”

She returned holding a few bandages, some medicine and a pair of scissors. The boy let himself be treated. Her touch was gentle, and it had a hint of worry, almost as if she was scared something would hurt the kid, but she was very effective with her movements. The boy found himself wishing his mom would be as kind as the young woman in front of him, and knew that the baby she was carrying was going to be a lucky one for having her as a mother.

“Are you having a boy or a girl?” He asked, breaking the silence. “Have you picked a name?”

“I’m having a boy! Isn’t that sweet? My husband picked the name. It’s a bit odd but I love it!” She flashed him a big smile, clearly proud “his name will be Naruto.”

“You’re naming your kid Naruto? No way! I’m Naruto too! I thought I was the only Naruto in Konoha! It’s amazing to find out that someone else wants to name their child like me. Did you also pick the name because of Ero-Sennin’s novel? Are you also a fan of his writing? Oh. Oh. We’re in the past, right maybe you even know my parents. Oh right! I’m supposed to be looking for them. Could you help me? Their names are Minato Namikaze and Y/N Uzumaki. My dad’s the hokage, you surely know who he is right?”

Y/N dropped the medicine bottle she was holding. She stared at the person in front of her as if he were a ghost. He looked about 16-17 years old, it was impossible he was here.

“W-what?” She managed to ask

In that moment, the front door opened and

“Baby I’m home! How are my two sweet angels? You won’t imagine the day I just had, I’m so glad I could finally return to you-“ Minato stopped when he entered the kitchen and saw Naruto in there with his wife. “Oh, hi, I didn’t realize we had a visit. I’m Minato, Y/N’s husband. Are you staying for dinner?” He turned to Y/N, but was met with her shocked expression.

“Is something wrong my love?”

Naruto spoke then.

“Well, I guess I’ve accidentally completed the first part of my mission. I’m sorry for saying this out of the blue but, I’m your son.”

PART TWO HERE

[capcarolsdanver]

Arms Up

Request: Carol danvers x female reader where carol who has the biggest crush on her friend the reader, gives her hand combat lessons. Then of course flustering and blushing on both ends ensues, due to their very close proximity and physical touch. Please let the reader make the first move when carol is just too close and after they’ve been holding eye contact forever. Thank you, and please make it extra fluffy and romantic. (I loved faking it btw!) Pairing: Carol Danvers x Reader A/N: Hey there! It’s been far too long since I’ve posted anything! I’ve missed it so much, but also needed the break from it, so I thank everyone for being so patient with me while I took my time getting back into writing. At the best of times, I’m never 100% happy with anything I write, so having this be my first fic in months has me really nervous. I apologise if I’m a little rusty! Any feedback is very much appreciated, and as always, I hope you enjoy it! Please do not repost my writing anywhere without my permission.

Carol paces the length of the training room floor, her nerves absolutely buzzing. She showed up early in the hopes of reigning in this feeling that she’s had since she offered to help you train the previous day, but to her dismay, luck is apparently not on her side.

It’s a feeling that she’s familiar with, though she is far from fond of it. She’s Captain Marvel. She can’t be nervous, it just doesn’t fit her persona.

Still, she lets her mind wander to the reason why she’s been so uncharacteristically nervous so often for the past few months. You.

The previous evening when you had returned from your mission nursing a bloodied nose and a busted lip, you had walked up to Carol feeling pretty sorry for yourself. She had looked at you with concern, wincing at the damage to your face.

“Son of a bitch got a couple lucky punches in,” you pouted.

Carol chuckled lightly, knowing fully well that you would recover from your injuries in no time, but still studying you carefully anyway.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I’ve been relying too much on my powers,” you offered as an explanation, gingerly touching the wound to your lip to check that it hadn’t started bleeding again. “I’ve obviously been slacking with my combat training.”

Carol’s eyes snap up from where they had been watching your fingers touch your lip to meet your eyes. “I could run you through some training sessions,” she says. “I mean, if you want.”

“Really? You’d do that?” You asked, a new sense of energy running through you despite the exhaustion that weighed down heavily on your entire body from your mission.

“Of course I would,” she said, something about her tone making you nervous.

“That would be awesome, Carol! But please just prepare yourself. I’m pretty rusty.” You tried to pull your lips into an apologetic smile, though it quickly turned into a wince at the pain the movement caused to your busted lip.

“Yeah, something about your face right now tells me you might be more than a little rusty,” Carol joked, letting out a laugh at your glare and easily dodging your arm when you threw it her way. “Looks like we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“Ha ha,” you deadpanned, unable to stop a smile from gracing your lips, however slight it may have been.

Carol is suddenly snapped out of her daydream at the sound of the gym door swinging open. Her eyes fly to the door, hoping to see you walk through the open doorway. When she instead sees Nat and Clint enter the room, chatting away as usual, she visibly deflates.

“Damn, don’t be too disappointed to see us, Danvers.”

“No, sorry,” Carol quickly says. “I’m not.”

“Sure,” Nat says, eyeing her. “You waiting for someone in particular?”

She can tell from the look on Natasha’s face that she knows exactly who Carol’s waiting for.

“I’m training with Y/N today,” she says, trying to pass it off as nothing, but she catches Nat’s growing smirk. “Shut up,” she mutters, her face heating up.

Nat laughs loudly at Carol’s embarrassment, shouting out a “Have fun!” as her and Clint walk off to the other side of the gym to set up for their own training.

Carol watches them walk away, embarrassment now mixing with her nerves. She heads over to one of the punching bags to hopefully release some of her completely unwelcome nerves before you arrive. It actually works for a while and she quickly falls into a rhythm, circling the punching bag and delivering blow after blow, completely oblivious to everything around her.

“I see you got started without me.”

Your voice from behind her makes Carol jump. She turns around in a flash to face you, heaving out a few heavy breaths. You make an attempt to stifle a laugh, though your laughter completes fades anyway when your eyes take it upon themselves to rake over Carol’s body.

She’s wearing a crop top and a pair of tight leggings, not unusual gym attire for her but you don’t usually get to see it up close like this. Her defined abs are on full display, glimmering with sweat and it takes you several seconds too long to drag your eyes from her body to her face.

Carol doesn’t seem to notice your staring, her own eyes taking in your appearance too, before you both meet each other’s gaze.

“Nope, just warming up,” Carol finally says, and it takes you a second to realise she’s replying to you, having almost forgotten you had even said anything to begin with. “I’m ready when you are.”

She leads you over to an empty sparring mat, picking up her towel on the way and wiping the sweat from her face. You watch her with rapt attention.

God, she’s magnificent.

In between this and watching her pick up her water bottle to squirt some water into her mouth, you realise that maybe taking her up on her offer to train with you wasn’t exactly the smartest idea. Sure, you were always looking for any excuse to spend more time with Carol, but this could actually be the death of you. Of course, that thought quickly leaves your mind a moment later when she smiles at you and beckons you over to her.

You unceremoniously dump your gym bag on the floor next to Carol’s and grin at her, stepping in front of her on the padded floor of the sparring area.

“Let’s just ease into this, okay?” Carol says, rolling her shoulders back and shaking her arms to loosen up a little more.

“Okay,” you say absentmindedly, distracted by the view in front of you. Carol looks at you expectantly for a moment before reaching for your hands and lifting them in front of you in a defensive pose.

“Arms up.”

“Right.” You shake your head to bring yourself back to reality and focus on Carol’s stance. You attempt to copy it, your body moving stiffly, and earn yourself a laugh from Carol.

“God, no wonder you got punched so easily.”

“Hey!” You retort, taking a friendly swipe at Carol which she is quick to redirect, catching you completely off guard and throwing you off balance.

“Oh, you’re in for it now, Danvers!” You exclaim, regaining your balance and going for a straight punch at her.

She easily turns her body out of the way and you lurch forward again. Within a second, she’s moved herself behind you, throwing her arm around you to capture you in a light headlock.

“You sure about that?” She teases.

She’s clearly enjoying herself far too much, smug as ever, and she refuses to budge even as you try to shimmy your way out of her hold. Her smirk is only knocked off her face when your hands land on her arm and she suddenly seems to realise the position she’s put you both in. She glances at your face, mere inches from her own, before she quickly releases you and steps back to let you ready yourself again.

She has distinctively flushed cheeks, which normally you would  assume was a side effect of working out. Except for the fact that she’s Captain Marvel, and so she doesn’t generally deal with the common side effects people normally deal with from working out.

You brush it off though, figuring that your cheeks are probably just as flushed as hers.

Carol clears her throat and joins you again, her hands raised in fists.

“Let’s do some defensive work,” she says, getting back on track. “I’m gonna throw some punches at you and I just want you to avoid them, okay?”

“That’s all there is to it? Jeez, I wish I knew that earlier,” you sigh sarcastically. “Could have avoided getting a split lip yesterday.”

Luckily, said split lip had almost completely healed since the mission yesterday. Like Carol, you can also regenerate and heal yourself, although at a slower pace than her.

Carol chuckles. “That’s really as simple as it gets, Y/N. You only need to avoid a punch enough that you can put yourself back into a dominant position.”

You come close to blurting out a joke about Carol wanting you in a dominant position, but think better of it and keep your words to yourself. You’re both already flustered enough without any additional sexual jokes.

“Arms up,” she reminds you and waits until you’re in position before she continues. “I’ll go slow for now, okay?” She says and when you nod she throws a slow punch your way, in line with your chest. You dodge her fist, moving to the left, but struggle to straighten up in time to dodge her next punch from the right and she stops before she makes contact with you.

“Remember to rotate your body. You want to use as little effort as possible avoiding an attack.”

She demonstrates for you a few times, reenacting the movement she wants you to do. You nod, trying not to let your eyes wander yet again as you watch her and try to mirror her movements. When she seems satisfied enough she goes back to throwing slow punches at you, and you successfully manage to dodge them all.

“Good,” she nods, her eyes intensely observing you. “You can try using your hands to redirect my punches, too.” You do as she says, though your actions are more of a swat at her punching hand than anything.

She laughs at your exaggerated movements. “Wow, you really haven’t done this in a while, have you?”

“Rude,” you mumble, letting your arms fall to your sides when Carol stops punching. She takes a step towards you and you almost instinctively step back, but force yourself to stay in place. You do, however, flinch ever so slightly when Carol reaches for your arms and lifts them back up in front of you.

You hope she can’t feel the nervous energy practically radiating off of you.

“Arms up,” she says once more, smirking when you roll your eyes at her.

“Say that one more time. I dare you.”

“Oh yeah?” She says, a playful eyebrow raising. “And what’ll happen if I do? It’s not like you can fight back.”

“Hey!” You exclaim, and she attempts to bite back a laugh when you glare at her. “This is just getting downright insulting now.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” She chuckles once more before composing herself and regarding you with warm eyes. “I’ll stop. Look, it’s a lot less complicated than you probably think it is. Your hands make the contact.” She touches your hands with her own. “But your shoulders are actually doing the motion for you.” Her hands move to your shoulders.

She leaves them there for a good few seconds, seemingly forgetting what she’s doing before she locks eyes with you and blinks. She clears her throat and quickly steps back. You try not to physically react to the disappointment you feel at the loss of her touch.

She demonstrates what she means for you again, but if you’re being honest your eyes are concentrating more on her blushing cheeks, an even deeper shade of red than they were before. You can’t remember ever seeing her this flustered, and the thought of her acting this way because of you kind of has you beaming on the inside.

Sure, you can admit to yourself that you have had a crush on Carol for just about as long as you can remember, but you could never have predicted that those feelings would be reciprocated, as much as you had hoped.

There were certain moments with Carol where you had wondered if she did have those same feelings for you, but you’d replay those moments over and over in your mind until you’d convince yourself you’d just imagined things.

Now, though, you’re not so sure you had imagined it at all.

You somehow manage to pay attention for long enough that you can grasp what Carol is trying to show you and you get through a few minutes of Carol throwing punches and you deflecting them with your palms, your body mimicking Carol’s earlier movements.

“Great work, Y/N!” Carol says after a while, sounding pleasantly surprised. You’re just as surprised as she is, but only because you’d actually managed to not mess up while your mind had been elsewhere. Instead of admitting that, though, you simply shrug.

“Well, I suppose I should give some of that credit to my instructor too,” you say. “Seems like I’m in good hands.” She smirks in return, drawing closer to you once more. She exudes the confidence you’re familiar with, apparently overcoming the nerves she was battling with only minutes ago.

“Well, what did you expect when you came to the Captain Marvel for help?” She drawls, a cocky tone to her voice, and you roll your eyes to mask the sudden thrill you feel throughout your body at her rich voice.

“You’re name dropping yourself, now?” You raise an eyebrow but her smirk stays in place. “And I’m sorry, but if I’m not mistaken it was actually you who came and offered me that help.”

“Wow, you’re right,” she plays along, a playful glint in her eyes now. “A great teacher and a generous person. Man, I’m really something, huh?”

“So humble, too!” You enthuse sarcastically, though you can’t help but laugh. “Don’t get too cocky, Danvers. So far you’ve only taught me how to avoid punches in slow motion. If I got into another fight right now I think I’d end up in the exact same condition as I was last night.”

“Patience, Grasshopper,” Carol jokes, closing the distance between the two of you even further and touching your arm with her hand, keeping it there. You fight the urge to look at her hand, instead holding eye contact with Carol. “There’s still a lot for you to learn.”

“Like what?” You ask, fixated on Carol. The two of you barely have a foot between you but you still want to be closer to her.

“Like how to catch your opponent off guard.” You raise an eyebrow, a silent prompt for Carol to elaborate, and she chuckles before she continues. “You know. The element of surprise.”

“The element of surprise?”

“Mhm,” Carol nods. “It’s great knowing how to evade an attack, but it’s even better learning to recognise when there’s a potential opening for you to turn the tables and get the upper hand.”

“Right.” You nod along, playing her words over in your mind. Carol’s hand shifts slightly on your arm and this time you do lower your gaze to it for a moment. When you look back up, Carol seems completely entranced and you force yourself not to shift under her intense gaze.

Instead, you let Carol’s now apparent interest in you fuel your growing confidence. How you had never noticed it before, you don’t know. It seems like the most obvious thing to you right now.

Carol must at some point realise that she’s lost herself staring at you again because she eventually drops her hand and takes a step back.

“Let’s go again, this time a little faster,” Carol says and you stand in your defensive pose, waiting for Carol to take the lead. She’s clearly just as distracted as you, her eyes glued to you a moment longer before she stands in her own sparring pose. “Ready?”

Her words replay in your head again. The element of surprise. Your sudden wave of confidence quickly formulates its own plan, and as if to cement that plan in place, you see Carol’s eyes dart to your lips while she waits for your reply, spurring you on even more.

Before you put too much thought into it, you’re surging forward, your lips crashing into Carol’s in a rushed kiss.

She gasps against your lips in surprise and you feel her stumble backwards a little before she becomes more stable again. The kiss is only quick and you break away from Carol, leaving barely an inch between your lips. When you feel her lean towards you, you step back again, a smirk on your face.

“Now I’m ready.” You return back to your defensive pose. She looks dazed, her mouth hanging open as if she was trying to figure out if she’d just entirely imagined what had just happened. You raise an eyebrow at her, surveying her stance.

“Arms up,” you say, your smirk only growing with the absolute satisfaction you feel by throwing her own words back at her. She lets out a short laugh, unable to hold back a wide smile as she shakes her head at you in amusement.

“You’re unbelievable,” she says, not giving you a chance to respond before it’s her turn to press forward, capturing your lips in a kiss that leaves you gasping for breath. A moment later, she does put her arms up, throwing them over your shoulders to pull your body even closer while you slide your own hands around her waist, completely losing your mind at the feel of her bare skin under your palms.

The two of you are so lost in your own world that Natasha’s hollering from across the gym is just barely enough to pull you apart long enough for Carol to shout a few choice words back at her, offering her the middle finger as she grabs your hand with her free hand and pulls you towards the gym doors.

“I think that’s enough training for today. What do you say?”

You’ve never agreed with something so quickly before.